Soul Cakes: An Offering for Our Ancestors

This recipe was adapted from the recipe for Soul Cakes by T. Susan Chang for National Public Radio.

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 15 mins

Total Time 30 mins

Servings 12 cookies

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2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1/2 teaspoon salt (I left this out in the concert video)

1/8 teaspoon of turmeric

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 cup milk

1 stick 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

2 egg yolks

1/2 cup currants or raisins

 

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

• Combine the flour, spices and salt in a small bowl. Mix well with a fork.

• Warm the milk in a small saucepan. Remove from heat.

• Cream the butter and sugar together in a medium bowl with a wooden spoon (or use an electric mixer with the paddle attachment). Add the egg yolks and blend in thoroughly with the back of the spoon. Add the spiced flour and combine as thoroughly as possible; the mixture will be dry and crumbly.

• One tablespoon at a time, begin adding in the warm milk, blending vigorously with the spoon. When you have a soft dough, stop adding milk; you probably won't need the entire half-cup.

• Turn the dough out onto a floured counter and knead gently, with floured hands, until the dough is uniform. Roll out gently to a thickness of 1/2 inch. Using a floured 2-inch round cookie or biscuit cutter, cut out as many rounds as you can and set on an ungreased baking sheet. You can gather and re-roll the scraps, gently.

• Decorate the soul cakes with currants or raisins and then brush liberally with the beaten egg yolk. Bake for 15 minutes, until just golden and shiny. Serve warm.

Note from Ruth: As an offering for your ancestors, place however many you wish on a plate and set on your ancestral altar on Halloween night or outdoors in a special offering place. Don’t be surprised if the cakes go missing, especially if you set them outside.

 

Best Witches to you and yours,

From Ruth & Friends