English Hard Cake

Submitted by CookinwithGas

"The first time you make this, you might wonder where you went wrong because it's hard and on the dry side...Trust me, it's supposed to be that way...This is not one of those moist 'tea' cakes... The 'trick' is that you have some strong hot tea with it...Don't make the mistake of having it with coffee, you lose the 'effect'...I prefer stong hot English Breakfast tea with no other flavor (no herbals, etc) Only then will you appreciate the magic of this seemingly ordinary 'tea' cake!"

 

• Ready In: 1hr
• Ingredients: 9
• Yields: 1 tea cake
• Serves: 10

ingredients

• 2 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup granulated sugar (scant)
• 1⁄2 cup butter, softened (unsalted)
• 1⁄2 cup egg substitute (Egg Beaters)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup walnuts (chopped)
• cinnamon sugar (optional)

directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F; Combine well the flour, baking powder, salt and walnuts --.
2. In a separate bowl cream together the butter and sugar until completely combined; Add Egg Beaters to the creamed butter/sugar beating well; Add vanilla and stir to mix completely --.
3. Add dry mixture to this 'wet' mixture, combining well --The resulting mixture should be crumb-like --.
4. Shape the mixture into balls and arrange in a circle in a greased 9" cake pan (perhaps 6 balls, 5 around and one in the middle).
5. By arranging them in this fashion, you'll get an effect similar to scoring you see in scone recipes except this is achieved 'naturally' by the arrangement of the balls --.
6. At this time you can sprinkle it with the optional cinnamon sugar (trust me, it's better WITH the cinnamon sugar!).
7. Bake in preheated 350°F oven for approximately 50 minute (your time may vary).
8. Allow me to repeat, this will be hard upon completion and dryish -- it isn't intended to be a moist 'tea' cake (so don't be alarmed).
9. Serve warm or equally good at room temperature; don't forget to have it with strong hot tea (no herbals) for the FULL effect!
10. Suggestions: substitute pecans for the walnuts.