This is a Delia Smith Recipe from the 1970's that I used to make with my Mom when I was little. We called it 'Witch's Brew cake' as it is made in a saucpan (cauldron!) on the hob, and looks like something a witch would brew up!

The recipe got lost over time, but was recently published in the newspaper. My Dad spotted it and said 'do you think this could be the recipe for Witch's Brew Cake?' So I made it and it is! Yummy!


150ml water
150g caster sugar
110g sultanas
110g butter
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 large egg, beaten
1 tsp baking powder
175g plain flour
Pre-heat the oven to 180c/350F/gas mark 4.
First grease a 450g loaf tin and line it with greaseproof paper, also greased. Then take a large, thick-based saucepan and put into it the water, sugar, sultanas, butter and bicarbonate of soda.

Place the pan on a medium heat, stir the ingredients together and bring them up to the boil. Then boil gently for 10 minutes exactly - but don't go away, watch it like a hawk, because if the temperature isn't controlled, it might boil over.
When the 10 minutes are up, remove the pan from the heat and allow the mixture to cool.
Then add the beaten egg, and the baking powder and flour sifted together.
Give it a good mix, then place the mixture in the prepared tin and bake for about 1 1/2 hours on the middle shelf.