No Cook Fruit Cake

8 oz (250g) coffee or arrowroot biscuits
1 T sherry
2 T cocoa
1 egg
1 T full cream dry powdered milk
4 T butter or margarine
1 cup icing sugar
1 cup mixed fruit
pinch salt

Method: Crush biscuits finely, add fruit, sherry, salt, powdered milk & cocoa. Beat egg & sugar together & add to dry ingredients. Melt butter & blend well through the mixture. Press into buttered tin. Allow to set & ice with white icing & sprinkle with coconut.

Source: contributed by Lisa Weckert, aged 8, to The Northern Automotive Restoration Club S. A. Inc. 10th Anniversary Cookbook . Compiled & typed by Lynne Newbold (Clare: Northern Argus, 1984) [Number 0408] - "dedicated to N.A.R.C. from it's [sic] feminine members."

Note: "T" = Tablespoon

Economical Fruit Loaf

(Eggless and butterless).

Soak 1 Cup All-Bran in 1 Cup of Milk for 1 hour.

Then add 1 Cup of Mixed Fruit; 1 Cup of Brown Sugar; 1 Cup SR Flour. Grease tin well and bake in moderate oven.

Source: contributed by Mrs. H. F. B. Haynes in The Best of Everything. Compiled by the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Naracoorte Hospital (Naracoorte, 1970), p.65.

Christmas Cake (simple to make)

1 lb. butter.
1 lb. brown sugar.
10 eggs.

Beat well until creamy.

1 heaped tablespoon syrup or marmalade jam.
1 oz. butter.
1&1/2 wineglasses of whisky.

In saucepan, brown sugar and butter, add whisky gradually -- will soften eggs and sugar and butter mixture when added.

Approx. 3 lbs. fruit, consisting of:
1/2 lb. raisins.
1 lb. mixed fruit.
1/2 lb. sultanas.
1/4. lb. dates.
1/4. lb. cherries.
1/4. lb. almonds.
1/4. lb. lemon peel.

More fruit may be added if desired, such as figs, ginger, etc.

Add alternately with fruit, 1&1/2 lb. plain flour, 1 teaspoon spice, pinch cinnamon, ground cloves, nutmeg.

Method: Bake in slow oven at 300 degrees [F] for first hour, then reduce heat to 200 degrees [F] for further 2 hours. (This quantity will fill one 8" and one 6" square tin.)

Source: contributed by Mrs. Bennett Webb in The Walford Recipe Book. Compiled by the Parent-Teacher Association of the Walford Church of England Girls' School. (Adelaide: Messenger Press; October 1966), p.43.

Light Birthday Cake

4 ozs. S.R. flour.
4 ozs. plain flour.
6 ozs. butter or margarine.
6 ozs. sugar.
1 lb. mixed fruit.
2 ozs. almonds.
1/2 cup warm milk.
1/2 cup treacle.
3 eggs.
1 tablespoon brandy (if liked).

Method: Cream butter and sugar, add treacle, beat in eggs one at a time, then add fruit and flour with pinch salt, and mix alternately with milk. Lastly add brandy. Bake in moderate oven in 8" square or equivalent tin, lined with buttered paper. Gas 320 degrees in middle of oven 1&3/4 to 2 hours. Let cool in tin.

Source: contributed by Mrs. R. Duffner in The Walford Recipe Book. Compiled by the Parent-Teacher Association of the Walford Church of England Girls' School. (Adelaide: Messenger Press; October 1966), p.43.

Moomba Slice

4 oz butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup mixed fruit
2 cups self-raising flour
pinch salt
blanched almonds

Method: Melt butter or substitute in saucepan. When melted add 1 cup sugar and stir until combined, allow to cool slightly, but stir occasionally so mixture does not go hard. Add beaten egg, mixed fruit and flour. Mix and place in greased and lined slice tin. Cook at 375°[F] for 20 minutes. When cool, ice with lemon icing and sprinkle with blanched almonds.

Source: Royal Adelaide Hospital Research Fund Recipe Book (Kurralta Park: Colour Printing House Pty. Ltd., c.1985), p.87.

Steamed Nut Loaf

Put in saucepan --
2 cups milk
3 tablespoons Golden Syrup (heaped)
2 tablespoons butter

Warm and melt. Take from stove and add 1 level teaspoon carb. soda. Let cool, then add 3 good cups S.R. flour, 2 cups fruit.

Put into greased soup tins (1/2 fill). Cover with Alfoil. Secure with rubber band. Steam for 1&1/2 hours. Can be served hot with custard as a pudding.

Source: More Favourite Recipes from our Quartermaster Marj Dennes in aid of Blue Lake Ladies Pipe Band (Mount Gambier, S.A.: 1981), p.14.

Mystery Loaf

1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons sugar
1 cup milk
1 dessertspoon golden syrup
1 cup mixed fruit and nuts

Method: Bring butter, sugar, milk, syrup and fruit to boil, then add 1 teaspoon carb. soda, while fizzing add 1 cup S.R. flour. Stir well and place in loaf tin. Bake 1/2 to 3/4 hour.

Source: contributed by Mrs. R. T. Wright, Naracoorte S.C.C. in Cooking for Two. Compiled by Women's Auxiliary of the S.A. Council on the Ageing for Adelaide's Second Senior Citizens' Week, April, 1969 (Adelaide [Allied Publishing Company), 1969), p.47.

Instant Christmas Cake

Layer one:
1 pkt. strawberry instant pudding mixed with 1 cup milk. Add 1 cup softened icecream and 1/2 cup chopped glace cherries. Place in foil lined container e.g. pudding bowl, loaf tin. Put in freezer while preparing next layer.

Layer two:
1 pkt. chocolate instant pudding mixed with 1 cup milk. Add 1 cup softened icecream & 1/2 cup chocolate chips. Place on top of strawberry layer.

Layer 3:
1 pkt. vanilla instant pudding mixed with 1 cup milk. Add 1 cup softened icecream & 1/2 cup mixed fruit (rum soaked optional). Place on chocolate layer, freeze. Turn out and decorate.

Source: contributed by Sue Codrington in Angaston Kindergarten Jubilee Cookery Book 1955-1985. 1986 edition (Angaston, 1986), p.65.

Boiled Pineapple Fruit Cake

1 x 450g can crushed pineapple
125g marg.
375g mixed fruit
1 cup sugar
1 tspn. mixed spices
pinch salt
1 cup S. R. flour
1 cup plain flour
1 tpsn. bicarb. soda
2 beaten eggs

Method: Boil first 6 ingredients and also the soda in a saucepan for 10 mins. Allow to cool. Add sifted flours and eggs. Place mixture in an 18cm square cake tin (or as desired) lined with greaseproof paper. Cook for 1 hour at 160°C. Test with skewer. Leave in tin 5 mins., then turn out on rack. Cool. Store in airtight container.

Source: contributed by Lorraine Rosenzweig in Angaston Kindergarten Jubilee Cookery Book 1955-1985. 1986 edition (Angaston, 1986), p.58.

Beer Cake

4 oz butter
4 cups SR flour
1 cup sugar
2 cups beer
1 beaten egg
1 cup mixed fruit
1 tspn mixed spice

Method: Rub butter into flour. Mix sugar and spice lightly into flour, then fruit and beaten egg. Add beer, mixing all well. Pour into 10" baking dish.

Topping:
1 cup plain flour
3 oz butter
1 cup sugar

Rub all together until crumbly and sprinkle over cake mixture. Bake in hot oven 400°F for half an hour, then reduce temperature to 325°F and bake further half hour.

Source: The Embroiderers' Recipe Book. Compiled by members of The Embroiderers' Guild of South Australia Incorporated ([Adelaide], n.d.), p.45.

Eggless Jubilee Cake

Method: Pour 1 cup boiling Water over 3/4 cup Sugar and 1 cup mixed Fruit. Let stand for 10 minutes. Add 2 cups SR flour, 1 tsp Cinnamon.
Bake in a greased orange loaf tin (or log) for 30-35 minutes.
Ice while still warm - Lemon-flavoured is nice.

Source: Recipes Old and New (Dedicated to the many women who have worked in and for the Hutchinson Hospital during the last eighty years) [Gawler Health Services Joint Fund: November 1994], p.29.

Muesli Scones

1 cup SR flour
1 cup Muesli
TONE skim milk

Method: Mix dry ingredients and add sufficient milk to produce a scone dough. Heat lightly greased frypan to 175°C. Place spoonfuls of scone mix in pan, cover and reduce temperature to 150°C. Cook for about 10 minutes or until tops are smooth, not moist. Turn scones to brown the base. These are delicious served hot and require no additions. Served with fresh fruit, or fruit juice, Muesli Scones provide a quick and complete breakfast.

Muesli
250g rolled oats
250g wheat germ
125g bran, unprocessed
4 Tblsp buckwheat
4 Tblsp sunflower seeds
250g dried fruits

Method: Mix all together and store in air-tight containers.

Source: Rumbles Cookbook: low fat, low cholesterol, low salt and high fibre recipes edited by Judy Read (Adelaide: Royal Adelaide Hospital Health Promotion Unit, n.d. [1980s]), p.17.

Heavy Cake

Heavy Cake. made up light.

450g S.R. Flour

125g butter or margarine

300ml milk to mix

a little peel [optional]

175g currants and sultanas mixed

100g lard

100g sugar

1 egg [optional]

a good pinch salt

Method: Rub the fats into the flour. Add sugar and fruit. Add salt and milk, mixing with a knife till it becomes dough. Place on a floured board and roll out 2cm thick. Score the top lightly with the back of a knife. Brush with milk, water or egg. Place on a flat baking tray; cook for 20 minutes at 200C. Cut into good sized squares.

Proper Heavy Cake

225g mixed fruit (threequarters currants, the rest sultanas]

100g margarine

400g plain flour

A little peel [optional]

75g sugar

300ml milk

50g butter

50g S.R. Flour

125g lard

quarter teaspoon salt

Method: Place the flour in a bowl. Rub in the lard and margarine lightly, add sugar, salt and fruit. Mix with the milk. Roll out mixture on a flour board. Dab butter on two thirds of the surface, fold the unbuttered side over and fold again, rest for 30 minutes. Roll out again and fold in three. Rest a little then roll out again 2cm thick into a large round or square. Score crisscross lines on the top. Brush with egg or milk wash. Bake 200C for 20 minutes.

Source: Australia's Little Cornwall. Cornish Cook Book (Moonta, S.A.: National Trust of South Australia Moonta Branch, n.d. [post-1998]), p.10.

Steamed Pudding (No butter, eggs, sugar or flour)

1 cup mixed fruit

1 cup breadcrumbs

1/2 teaspoon carb.soda, mixed in 1/2 cup milk

1 mashed banana

Method: Put all in basin, steam 3 hours. Delicious.

Source: A Cooks' Tour of Recipes. Published for the Adelaide University S.R.C. [Students' Representative Council]. (Adelaide: Commercial Publications of South Australia, 1955), p.62.

A Scripture Christmas Cake. How to make a Novel Tea Dainty from Biblical Ingredients.

Four cupfuls and a half, I. Kings iv. 22; half a pound, Judges v. 25; two cupfuls, Jeremiah vi. 20; two cupfuls, Nahum iii. 12; two cupfuls, I. Samuel xxx. 12; two cupfuls, Numbers, xvii. 8; two teaspoonfuls, I. Samuel xiv, 25; to taste, II. Chronicles ix. 9; six, Jeremiah xvii. 11; one cupful and a half, Judges iv. 19; two teaspoonfuls, Amos iv. 5; one pinch, Leviticus ii. 13. Directions, Proverbs xxiii. 14. Bake one and a half to two hours. Baking powder can be used instead of yeast. 

Source: Ideal Recipe Book for use of Currants, Raisins, Sultanas and Grapes. Also Recipes for Refreshing Fruit Beverages and Party Drinks. Issued by Woman's Christian Temperance Union of South Australia. Fifth Edition (Adelaide: n.d. [?after 1933]), p.9.

Stuff

1 pkt. Marshmallows

4 ozs. Ginger

4 ozs. Cherries

2 ozs. Nuts

1 pkt. Malt Biscuits

3/4 tin Condensed Milk

1/2 pkt. Mixed Fruit

Method: Crush biscuits, cut up all other ingredients. Add condensed milk and mix altogether. Roll out into sausage shape, then roll in coconut. Place in refrigerator till set, then cut into slices. Keep in refrigerator wrapped in foil.

Source: Recipes for Slices and Snacks: Heartbeat Inc. Assistance Group, Adelaide Central Branch (Adelaide: n.d. [early 1980s?]), p.68

Home Made New Zealand Chocolate

1 lb copha, 2 cups full cream powdered milk, vanilla or lemon essence, 2 heaped cups icing sugar, 6 Tbls cocoa, pinch salt.

Method: Melt copha over hot water. Add sifted dry ingredients, then essence. Beat 10 mins. Pour into buttered tin. Cut into squares when cold. To vary flavour, add mixed fruit, ginger, raisins, nuts or coconut.

Source: contributed by E. Corkin in Booleroo Centre Primary School 1885-1985 Centenary Recipe Book (Revised edition 1985 of 1970 edition, p.118.

Cabin Fingers

Place 1/2lb. crushed coffee biscuits, 1 tablespoon cocoa and 1/2 cup nuts in a basin. Fruit may be added.

Then stir over fire 2oz. sugar, 1/4lb. butter and 1 well-beaten egg until sugar is dissolved. Pour over mixture. Pour into shallow dish and press down hard. Leave till next day to set.

Source: contributed Mrs. A. A. Henschke, Lobethal and Mrs. H. Henschke, Lobethal in The Golden Wattle Cookery Book. Compiled by Ladies of the Kindergarten Committee. In aid of Kindergarten Funds. (Lobethal: 1948), p.67.

No Bake Fruit Cake

16 weetbix, 3/4 cup orange juice, 2 tbspn jam, 2 cups mixed fruit, 1/2 cup nuts, 4 oz butter or margarine, 1 tspn cinnamon, 1/4 tspn nutmeg, 1 tspn vanilla, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tbspn cocoa.

Method: Combined crushed weetbix with orange juice and jam in large bowl, set aside. Prepare other ingredients. Combined all except butter or margarine and mix thoroughly, add melted butter, mix well and turn into tin lined with paper. Press down firm, leave overnight. Ice if desired, cut into small squares or fingers. Will keep for months in refrigerator.

Source: contributed by Shirley Rohrlach in Blyth Recipe Book: Favourite Tested Recipes of the Blyth Trinity Lutheran Ladies Guild (Blyth Womens Guild, 1972), p.33.

Edited 26/12/2019: as made by the Pineapple Princesses, with a delicious pineapple variation: https://pineappleprincesses.blogspot.com/2019/12/merry-pineapples.html

Economical Plum Pudding

2 large cups fresh breadcrumbs, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 cup mixed fruit, 1 tsp mixed spice, 1 tsp carb. soda, 1/2 cup milk, 1 Tbls butter, 1 egg, 1/2 tsp lemon essence, 1 Tbls sweet sherry.

Method: Combined dry ingredients other than carb. soda which is dissolved in milk, then added. Melt butter and add to mixture. Beat eggs and mix in with all ingredients. Place in a greased steamer, cover and steam for 1&1/2 hours.

Source: contributed by A. Arthur in Booleroo Centre Primary School 1885-1985 Centenary Recipe Book (Revised edition 1985 of 1970 edition), p.57.