Wartime Carrot Cake
wartime carrot cake on a serving platter with a slice removed

Wartime Carrot Cake

wartime carrot cake on a serving platter with a slice removed
Wartime Carrot Cake
Time: 1 hour
Servings: 8
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During the Second World War, when sugar was rationed to 8oz (230g) per week, carrots were used to naturally sweeten cakes and biscuits. The
sweetness of the carrots replaced some of the sugar used in the original recipes.

union jack flag

Celebrating Heritage British Food & Cooking

bunch of fresh carrots on a cutting board

A Recipe From My Britain At War Collection

wartime rationing banner showing a ration book cover and various cooked items on a table

During WWII and for nearly 10 years afterwards, the UK population was subject to food rationing. To feed the family some very creative recipes were used to make the best of the available foodstuffs. Eggs and meat in particular were severely restricted.

british housewives queueing for their egg ration
British housewives queueing for their egg ration in 1940 © IWM

Rationing finally ended in 1954 when the last item, meat was made freely available.

wartime carrot cake on a serving platter with a slice removed

Wartime Carrot Cake

National Trust
Simple carrot cake substituting carrot for some of the sugar
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Cake
Cuisine 🇬🇧 British
Servings 8

Equipment

  • 20cm Baking tin

Ingredients
  

  • 230 g self-raising flour
  • 85 g margarine or cooking fat
  • 85 g sugar
  • 115 g finely grated carrot
  • 55 g sultanas
  • A little milk or water
  • 1 reconstituted dried egg or 1 fresh egg

Conversions

Click here for a cooking conversions chart

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 220˚C / 200˚C (fan) / gas mark 7.
  • Sift the flour into a mixing bowl.
  • Rub in the margarine or cooking fat.
  • Add sugar, carrot, sultanas and egg. Mix well and then add enough milk
  • or water to make sticky.
  • Pour mixture into a lined baking tin and cook in the oven for 40 – 45
  • minutes or until golden in colour.

You may also like one of my other favourite recipes …

1
wartime national loaf partly sliced on a bread board
British National Loaf
The wartime standard loaf made with wholemeal flour
Check out this recipe
2
rabbit stew on a plate with broccoli
Rabbit Stew
Rabbit only needs a few ingredients to be transformed into a delicious one-pot meal.
Check out this recipe
Grandads Cookbook may reference or include sections of text and images reproduced courtesy of:
  • National Trust

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