A tasty alternative to the typical fruitcake – filled with a variety of flavors and textures
Happy Winter Solstice!
This dense and
spicy holiday cake contains fresh and dried fruit, carrots, spices, alcohol, and
sunflower seeds for crunch. Zest from lime, lemon and orange add a boost of
fruit flavor without the sugar/additives of candied fruit. Every bite contains
different flavors. Using the Wacky Cake formula to help it rise, it creates an
attractive cake to serve following a hearty meal on the shortest day of the
year. I usually cook a thick meat and vegetable soup, drink a bit of wine to
toast the return of the sun, and eat some shortbread to include a Scottish
taste.
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Scottish Shortbread showing sunburst pattern |
I really enjoy
celebrating the Winter Solstice with my family and sharing my Celtic history
with everyone. Ancient Scots were quite superstitious and believed that evil
spirits roamed around when the sunlight was at its weakest in early winter. According
to author Ellen Jackson, the Scottish people came up with rituals to protect
their families, like dropping hot coals from the hearth fire into water; washing
with these opposing elements created a magical charm. As well, they came up
with community feasts and partying to celebrate the return of the Sun. Longer
days meant the cold weather would lead back to warm and that their crops would
grow again. With this reassurance, they heartily shared the abundance of the
past harvest.
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Greenery, visiting and sharing food is part of celebrating Winter Solstice. (PHOTO CREDIT: Altogether Christmas Vintage Clipart) |
When I first
started doing research on Celtic holidays and rituals, I was surprised to see
the huge overlap between ancient cultures (pagan) and Christianity. Many of the
enduring traditions that I thought as a child came from church, actually came
from the pagans. Christmas especially is a complete meld of ancient, nature
based symbols and customs with later, Christianity-imposed religious practices.
I’ve found this both surprising and intriguing. My research has resulted in expanding
my own holiday traditions and honoring multiple cultural practices in the
process.
Excerpt from a Scottish Blessing –
“May the blessing of light be on you - light
without and light within. May the blessed sunlight shine on you like a great
peat fire, so that stranger and friend may come and warm himself at it.”
Scottish Toast –
Slainte mhor agus a
h-uile beannachd duibh! Good health and every good blessing to you!
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Small Rosemary bush with decorations |
Resources for
learning more about Celtic traditions in general and Winter Solstice in
particular:
--Master
musician Àine Minogue presents Winter Solstice info and song samples on herwebsite. She is Irish and currently living in US. Her
name is pronounced Ohn-ya Mi-nohg - like it rhymes with Sonya Vogue.
--Celtic Callings website offers history, myth, traditions and products for sale. In this article discussing Winter Solstice, they mention that the holiday is also called Alban Arthuan in Gaelic. Which means "The Light of Arthur," in
reference to the Arthurian legend that states King Arthur was
born on the Winter Solstice.
--This brief article “The
Unconquered Sun,” regarding Winter Solstice and how different religions
celebrate, first appeared as an article by Janet Shotwell in The Karma Dzong Banner (Vol III, No 11,
December 1991, Halifax, Nova Scotia).
--Picture book
for children of all ages, The Winter Solstice by Ellen Jackson,
illustrated by Jan Davey Ellis (Millbrook Press: Brookfield, CT; 1994).
Cheerful and detailed painting complement the text, which succinctly covers the
history and traditions of ancient Scots, Romans, Scandinavians, and the indigenous
peoples of Peru, America, and British Columbia. Also touches on modern America
and Europe as well as the astronomical aspect of the solstice.
Moving on to the gastronomical...
Moving on to the gastronomical...
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Ingredients for Winter Solstice cake - the colors are a feast for the eyes |
Winter
Solstice Cake
A holiday treat, bursting with fruit
& spices, variation on a Wacky Cake recipe
Ingredients:
DRY
1½ cups flour
¾ cup brown
sugar
¼ cup shredded
coconut, unsweetened
¾ tsp baking
soda
½ tsp sea salt
SPICES
¾ tsp cinnamon
¾ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp allspice
1/8 tsp ginger
1/8 tsp cloves
1/16 tsp cardamom
WET
WET
½ cup fresh
grated carrots
½ cup pineapple,
diced in small pieces (or use canned crushed pineapple, drained)
1 tsp fresh lime
zest
1 tsp fresh
lemon zest
1 tsp fresh
orange zest
¼ cup currants
(or use sultanas or regular raisins)
¼ cup dried
cherries (or dried cranberries)
¼ cup fresh
cranberries, finely chopped - Optional
1 tsp
McCormack’s brand Almond extract (it’s
made out of apricot pits and McCormack’s is processed in nut-free facilities; I
use the pure version)
5 Tbsp vegetable
oil
¼ cup sour cream
or plain yogurt
¾ cup milk
ALCOHOL
1 Tbsp (I use
Drambuie or Sherry; Rum or Brandy work as well)
For a
nonalcoholic option use balsamic or malt vinegar
CRUNCH
1/8 cup roasted
seeds - sunflower or pumpkin kernels (Gerb’s
Seed Company is allergy friendly; David’s brand is usually free from
cross-contamination – ALWAYS read labels and /or call manufacturers for most up
to date info)
Directions
Preheat oven to
350°F. Grease a round, glass casserole dish (I used an 8 inch, 1.5L capacity).
In a small
mixing bowl, measure out all the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, coconut, soda,
salt, and spices. Whisk to combine.
In a separate larger
bowl, measure out and mix together the carrots, fruits, all three zests,
extract, and alcohol (or vinegar). Measure out and mix in sour cream and milk.
Now dump the dry
ingredients into the wet ingredients bowl. Add in seeds. Use a spatula to combine
all the ingredients and create the cake batter. Fruits and seeds should be
evenly distributed through the batter and all flour should be fully
incorporated.
Pour into
greased glass dish and put into oven straightaway. Bake for ~40 mins. A toothpick
inserted in center should come out moist but clean. Cake should have nice
browning and be pulling slightly away from edges.
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Winter Solstice Cake fresh out of the oven; the area near the center is not a hole but a chunk of pineapple |
I serve straight
from the dish, warm or cool. Cover to store. If desired, the cake could be
turned out of the pan for nicer presentation.
VEGAN
SUGGESTION: replace sour cream/milk with either coconut milk or other nondairy “milk”
or use 1 cup of water
ALLERGENS:
contains wheat, dairy
ALLERGY
ACCOMMODATIONS: replace wheat with a gluten-free baking mix; replace dairy with
coconut milk, nondairy “milk” like rice or soy, or just use water – cake may
not rise quite as high
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