Grandmother Higbe's 'A Cake That Never Fails'

I was going through my recipe files and found this forgotten treasure. It was signed originally by my paternal grandmother, so I believe Grandmother Higbe would have been 4 generations back from me. The recipe was dated '1885'. There is no time or temperature (Who knows what a wood cook stove's temperature would have been?). For cakes I default to 350 deg. F. and test with a toothpick for doneness.

• Ready In: 0 mins
• Yields: 3 8inch layers

Ingredients

• 2  cups sugar
• 1⁄2 cup butter
• 4 -5  egg whites
• 2  tablespoons hot water
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 3  cups flour
• 5  teaspoons baking powder
• 1  cup water

Directions

1. Cream butter, sugar and hot water.
2. Add vanilla.
3. Sift flour once.
4. Add baking powder to flour and sift again 4 or 5 times.
5. Add water and flour a little at a time to butter and sugar mixture, beating until smooth.
6. Last, add the well beaten egg whites.
7. Bake in large pan.
8. Makes 3 small layers or 2 large.
9. If you wish to use other shortening than butter, add a little salt.
10. Nuts may be added if desired.