Eggless, milkless spice cake

---------- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.02
  
       Title: Eggless, Milkless Spice Cake
  Categories: Cakes, Tea loaves
       Yield: 1 7inch tube
  
       1 c  Water or beer
       2 c  Raisins
       1 c  Packed brown sugar
     1/3 c  Butter or shortening
     1/2 t  Each cinnamon and allspice
     1/2 t  Salt
     1/8 t  Nutmeg
       2 c  Cake flour, sifted
       1 t  Double action baking powder
       1 t  Baking soda
       1 c  Chopped almonds (optional)
            Caramel Icing
 
 -------------------------ADDED INGREDIENTS TO TURN-------------------------
 
 -----------------------------INTO A FRUIT CAKE:-----------------------------
       1 c  Chopped dates
       1 c  Chopped figs
       1 c  Chopped citron
  
   Recipe from the Joy of Cooking
   
   Comment:  the spice level is very subtle.  For a spicier version,
   increase the amount of spice and/or add in some stronger ones such as
   ginger, anise, cloves.
   
   Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
   
   Boil for 3 minutes the water (beer), raisins, brown sugar, butter, spices,
   and salt. Cool.
   
   Sift together the cake four, baking powder and baking soda.
   
   Stir the flour gradually into the other ingredients.  Stir until smooth.
   Add almonds.  [If making the fruit cake variation, add the remaining
   ingredients.]
   
   Bake in a greased tube pan for 1 hour or more.  Frost with caramel icing.
  
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