Old World Halloween | Soul Cakes Recipe

Happy Halloween!! Since it’s Halloween season, I thought I would share my FAVORITE recipe for both Halloween and Samhain. It’s for a kind of shortbread cookie commonly called Soul Cakes.

In the Middle Ages, when All Hallow’s Day (AKA All Souls Day) was the main celebration, peasants and children would go door to door, offering up prayers for the souls of the dead in exchange for coins and sweets.

One of the common treats gifted at that time were, you guessed it: Soul Cakes. They were often made with dried fruit, nuts, or berries, but I usually make mine plain with a little bit of powdered sugar.

// Soul Cakes Recipe //  

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter
• 3 3/4 cups flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons cider vinegar
• 6 tablespoons milk
• powdered sugar, to sprinkle on top

Directions:

1. Cut 1 cup of butter into 3 3/4 cups of flour. You can use a pastry blender, but I use a fork or wooden spoon.
2. Blend in the sugar, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon and allspice. Sometimes, I add in a little cardamom or saffron. It’s up to you!
3. In a separate bowl beat together the eggs, milk, and vinegar.
4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix together.
5. Kneed thoroughly to form a dough. You will need to put your back into it when kneading unless you have a Kitchen Aid; in which case, lucky you!
6. Roll out to a 1/4 inch thickness and cut out 3 inch circles with a cookie cutter or glass.
7. Place on a baking sheet & bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes.
8. Sprinkle with powdered sugar while still warm and enjoy!

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