Election Cake

Name: Election Cake
Ingredients: 2 1/2 pounds Wheat flour (refined/all-purpose) (Originally 'Mill's No. 1 Wheat Flour'.); 1 pound Sugar (finely crushed); 1/2 pound Butter (softened); 2 tablespoons Active dry yeast (Originally '0.75 lb fresh hops yeast' (liquid starter). Substituted with modern active dry yeast equivalent for this flour volume.); 1 cup Whole milk (warm) (Originally '0.5 seer'. Converted to approx 1 cup.); 4 whole Eggs; 2 teaspoons Cardamom powder (Originally '0.5 tola'. Converted to approx 2 teaspoons.); 2 teaspoons Nutmeg powder (Originally '0.5 tola'. Converted to approx 2 teaspoons.); 2 tablespoons Butter (for greasing) (Quantity estimated for greasing the mold.)

A traditional Parsi yeast-raised cake, known as Election Cake, featuring a rich, brioche-like texture infused with aromatic cardamom and nutmeg. This historical recipe combines the heartiness of bread with the sweetness of cake, using a generous amount of butter and eggs for a golden, tender crumb. Perfect for special occasions, it offers a delightful slice of culinary history with its unique fermentation method and warming spices.

Ingredients

2 1/2 pounds Wheat flour (refined/all-purpose) (Originally 'Mill's No. 1 Wheat Flour'.)
1 pound Sugar (finely crushed)
1/2 pound Butter (softened)
2 tablespoons Active dry yeast (Originally '0.75 lb fresh hops yeast' (liquid starter). Substituted with modern active dry yeast equivalent for this flour volume.)
1 cup Whole milk (warm) (Originally '0.5 seer'. Converted to approx 1 cup.)
4 whole Eggs
2 teaspoons Cardamom powder (Originally '0.5 tola'. Converted to approx 2 teaspoons.)
2 teaspoons Nutmeg powder (Originally '0.5 tola'. Converted to approx 2 teaspoons.)
2 tablespoons Butter (for greasing) (Quantity estimated for greasing the mold.)

Instructions

1Dissolve the active dry yeast in the warm milk and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until frothy.
2In a large tinned vessel or mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, softened butter, eggs, cardamom, and nutmeg. Mix thoroughly to incorporate all ingredients.
3Add the yeast mixture to the dough and mix well. Cover the vessel and place it in a warm spot (near a stove, but not too close) to allow the dough to rise until doubled in size.
4Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Generously grease a cake mold with butter. Once the dough has risen, transfer it into the prepared mold. Bake in the preheated oven until the cake is well-browned and cooked through, approximately 45-50 minutes.