Blitzkrieg Cake - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 cup water
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 cups raisins
1/2 cup shortening
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
icing sugar, as needed (optional)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350F, have ready a greased and floured 8-inch cake pan.
In a saucepan over high heat, combine water, brown sugar, raisins, shortening and the spices; bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
Turn off heat, remove pot from burner, and let cool to lukewarm.
In a mixing bowl, stir together flour and baking soda; blend flour mixture into cooled raisin mixture.
Pour batter into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for approximately 45 minutes, or until top is firm to the touch.
Let cake cool before serving; if desired, sprinkle top with icing sugar.