Hi I spent my morning making soulcakes for Samhain.
The origin of soul cakes is hard to pin down because traditions vary.
However, the most common one is “souling” in which the poor would go to the rich and beg for money and food, specifically, "soul cakes". In return, they would sing souling songs and offer to pray for the family's dead on All Saints Day or All Hallows Day which is November 1st. This custom, has roots in the celebration of Samhain, or Summer's End, to honor the dying sun on the last night of October. If you combine these two together, then you get All Hallows Eve, Hallowe'en, and now, Halloween! No doubt, souling has adapted into the modern practice of trick-or-treating.
They belief is that for each soul cake eaten, one soul would be released from purgatory! I love the idea of helping the departed on their way.
A lot of these will be eaten but one or two will be used for offerings as well.
The recipe varies as much as the traditions do!
Here’s my recipe,
3 3/4 Cup flour
1 Cup sugar
3 tsp pumpkin pie spice
2 eggs
6 tablespoons milk
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
Powdered sugar for dusting
Combine flour and butter and spice
Make a well and add wet ingredients
Mix
Turn onto floured surface & roll out
Cut into circles 1/4 inch thick
Use fork to make cross on top
Place on baking sheet lined with wax paper
Bake 350 for 17 minutes
Sprinkle with powdered sugar while warm
I continue using my dough after cutting out the cakes until there’s not enough left.
Makes 36-40 cookies.
Please note these are not soft & chewy cookies, they are more of a shortbread consistency and go great with warm beverages.
Blessed Samhain, Happy Halloween! However you celebrate I hope you have a great new year!
