The 'Little Black Dress' of Cake

 

You know how every Fashionista from Coco Chanel on, has suggested the purchase of a 'little black dress'?

...the unadorned, simple, perfectly tailored 'blank slate' upon which any number of accessories can be piled to various effect?

Well...this is that dress in cake form.

It is subtle, easy, can be made from ingredients most of us already have at home...

...and it's not pie--which we will soon have in abundance.

Serve it with ice cream or fruit...

...make the topping or don't.

Warning: If you ever once make it with the topping, your family will never again let you make it 'without'!! :)

So try this cake sometime when you need a little perfect piece of something sweet to eat with your afternoon tea or coffee.

Yum!!

Little Black Dress of Cake

2 c flour
1 tbsp baking powder (yes!)
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1- 1/4 c brown sugar
1 c butter (must be butter, not margarine)
3 eggs
1/2 c milk
1/2 c raisins or craisins

Topping:
2/3 c butter (must be butter!), softened
1- 1/4 c brown sugar

Mix all cake ingredients (you know the drill--butter and sugar first, then add the remaining ingredients) and bake in a 13 x 9 inch (greased) baking pan at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or so (check for doneness).

While it is baking, mash together the topping ingredients.

When the cake is done, immediately spread the topping onto the hot cake (carefully--it will melt and become easier to spread as you go).

Then broil until the topping bubbles (about 1 minute) (WATCH carefully--this is not a time to answer the phone or to sign for a package!)

Cool and eat.
Refrigerate the few crumbs that remain. :)