Johnny Cake

Since the beginning of this project, and seeing the name of this cake, I have wanted to make this for my neighbour whose son is named Johnny. I also thought Johnny himself might be amused by a cake-like namesake. 

The other night as I read the list of ingredients, I considered the wisdom of giving a cake with this much beer in it to a child! The original recipe called for 'half a bottle' but that's quite an immeasurable measure. I added beer (Cooper's Best Extra Stout) glass by glass until I guessed the correct consistency of the cake. I ended up adding two and a half glasses (625ml). This is a lot. The cake smells very boozy, but isn't very sweet and is almost like a beer bread, in cake form. 

You should daub your slice of cake with some quality butter and enjoy this with a strong cup of tea. 

Johnny Cake

4 cups self-raising flour

85g. butter

85g. sugar

¼ cup currants

¼ cup sultanas

1 tbsp. mixed spice

2½ cups beer

Topping

2 tbsp. plain flour

3 tbsp. desiccated coconut

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. sugar

Preheat oven to 160°C

Rub butter into flour, add sugar, fruit and mixed spice.

Add the beer, mixing to a soft dough.

Pour into greased and floured cake tins.

Mix topping ingredients together, sprinkle evenly over top of cake mixture before placing into a moderate oven for 1 hour.

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For those of you who are not in Australia, please find here a selection of Measurement & Temperature Conversion Charts which should help with the accuracy of your own cooking.