MARTHA'S VIRGINIA CAKE
 

The General, George Washington had a special fondness for this cake. The family referred to it as "Virginia whiskey cake," but the only recipes that could be found use red wine and brandy . . . not whiskey. This recipe came from the hand of Mrs. Washington's granddaughter and it did not mention whiskey at all.

1 stick soft butter
1/2 cup sugar
3 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon mace

1 cup sweet port wine
1/4 cup brandy
1 1/2 cups diced dried mixed
fruit (for fruitcake)
6 eggs, separated
1 cup whiskey

 

Cream the butter and sugar until smooth. Mix in the yolks.
Mix the flour, baking powder, and spices together. Stir the flour mixture into the egg/sugar mixture. Mix in the port and the brandy.
Stir in the dried fruit.
Whip the egg whites until they form very soft peaks. Stir in about a quarter of them to lighten the batter. Fold in the remaining
egg whites very gently.
Bake in a preheated 325° oven in 2 loaf pans for 1 hour, or until a toothpick stuck into the middle of the cake comes out clean.
Cool the cakes and pour half of the whiskey over each. Cover each pan with aluminum foil and allow to sit for a day before serving.