The purpose of food storage is to get us through emergency situations, and to keep us fed and healthy for whatever may come. That is a noble and worthwhile pursuit. It also gives us ample room to stretch our creative cooking skills. While an emergency situation calls for prudent use of our food storage, there should also be room for treats. These treats can give you a bit of normal and a small escape during times of high stress.
This dried berry cake makes use of many things probably already in your food storage in a tasty and different way. To give this cake extra flavor, ground dried fruit is mixed into the batter. The grinding can be done in a blender or food processor. If electricity isn’t available, freeze dried berries can easily be ground by hand using a mortar and pestle, or even by placing them in a bag and taking a rolling pin to it. Almost any freeze dried fruit could be used, not just berries. To substitute home dried fruit, be sure to use berries that are crisp, almost over-dried. Dehydrated raspberries would be great for this. Fruits that are pliable like raisins (or any other store-bought dried fruit with that raisin texture) will not grind to a fine flour-like texture.
The frosting uses a bit of homemade or store-bought jam to give another fruity layer to the cake. Applesauce is used to give the cake moisture and is likely something many of us have in food storage. Melted butter or vegetable oil could be used instead of applesauce as well. The recipe was tested with spelt and all purpose flour with equally wonderful results. Powdered milk and eggs (or egg substitutes) will work in this cake.
The butter in the frosting might be the only truly difficult thing to replicate in a long-term situation. Should that be the case, a glaze of jam and powdered sugar poured over the cake works nicely as well. Although you can always make your own butter if you have access to cream.
Dehydrated Berry Cake
1 ounce Freeze Dried Berries, grind to a fine powder
1 ½ Cups Flour
¼ teaspoon Salt
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
½ Cup Sugar
½ Cup Unsweetened Applesauce
2 Eggs
¼ Cup Milk
Grease a 9” round cake pan. Preheat oven to 350.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the ground berries, flour, salt, and baking powder. Set aside.
In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar, applesauce and milk until thoroughly combined.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix completely.
Pour batter into prepared pan and spread evenly.
Bake in preheated oven for 25 – 27 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Cool in pan 10 minutes before turning out of pan to cool completely.
Frost as desired.
Cocoa Strawberry Frosting
¼ Cup Butter, softened
⅓ Cup Strawberry Jam
¼ Cup Cocoa Powder
2 Cups Powdered Sugar
Cream together the butter, cocoa powder, and jam. Add the powdered sugar a bit at a time until smooth and creamy. Spread over cooled cake.
As you build your food storage plan, be sure to keep some ingredients on hand for the occasional treat, like this dehydrated berry cake, for your family. What special treats have you have planned in your food storage?
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