Saturday, November 25 is the Feast of Edward Kelly (or Kelley — alternative spellings exist, as he lived before the time of standardized spelling). The Invisible Basilica of Sabazius describes the Gnostic Saint as: “Irish alchemist and magician. Kelly is best known for his travels with John Dee and work his work for Dee as a ‘skryer’ or visionary medium; but he was also a noted alchemist on his own right, publishing three alchemical works: The Stone of the Philosophers, The Humid Way, and The Theatre of Terrestrial Astronomy.”
Because Kelly was an alchemist who claimed to be able to produce gold from base metals, and because baking itself can be considered a form of alchemy, here is a recipe for an award-winning gold cake in his honor:
1928 Award-Winning Gold Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cups sifted cake flour
- 3 tsp baking powder
- 1⁄2 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 egg yolks, beaten till thick and lemon-colored
- 3⁄4 cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla or 1⁄2 tsp orange extract
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- Sift flour, then measure, add the baking powder, then sift the flour and powder together three times.
- Cream the butter well; slowly add the sugar, and cream till the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Add the beaten egg yolks, mixing well.
- Alternate adding the flour mixture with the milk, a little at a time, beating well after each addition.
- When the batter is smooth, add the flavoring and beat well.
- Pour the finished batter into a well greased 8-inch square baking pan.
- Bake at 350°F for 50 to 60 minutes.
Learn more about Edward Kelly:
