How to Make Seed Cake - The Victorian Way

[@amikireicraftstore]

Nobody was safe from the shade today, not even baking powder 🤣💜

[@SEELE-ONE]

*cries while tossing it away*

[@laurasmith6933]

I know, right? Of course since I'm allergic to eggs, baking powder is a must.

[@niseplank4527]

I'm not giving it up. I just made chicken and biscuits.

[@DrawWithGigi]

Or them caraway seeds…”a toothbrush and tooth powder would do the job better”

[@kiyoshitamagawa9824]

I was just wondering about whether she was going to add baking powder when she put the kibosh on that :-).

[@ecenbt]

When Ms. Crocombe called us all untrained girls for using baking powder... I felt that

[@MossyMozart]

@ecenbt - It really STUNG, didn't it?

[@covishen]

I used baking powder in this recipe because I messed up and accidentally put the egg whites in with the butter before I foamed them. So I added 1.5 t of baking powder. It still worked out very well.

[@olduglyentwife5700]

I think Maryanne uses baking powder because her seed cake rises a lot higher.

[@cioccolatamania3622]

A good cake should never use baking powder anyway

[@1.2.1.0.R.I.O]

I'm a man and I felt that.

[@Lena-pw4zk]

I never enjoyed being shamed more than when Mrs. Crocombe said we were all badly trained for using baking powder. Imagine if she knew about self raising flour

[@krdiaz8026]

Worse, cake mixes.

[@SEELE-ONE]

Pressurized whipped cream!

[@nataliatheweirdo]

she just made me feel bad for all the times i used self raising flower xD

[@kyrab7914]

Tbf, the baking powders available in her day prob weren't as... Purified? As they are now. I'm not sure double acting baking powder was around

[@LadyMephistopheles]

self rising flour is literally plain flour with baking powder so definitely yes.

[@MariahIsSkinnyFuckBlueLives]

Shade guide: 2:53 - poor people's flour with bugs 3:14 - wealthy families who do not support local businesses 4:08 - people with poor dental hygiene 4:48 - baking powder 5:03 - cooks who use baking powder

[@Marie-PoilBelle]

Shade chapters, clever !

[@idraote]

"Not that we get anything like that here"... Of course, Mrs Crocombe, nobody would be so bold as to think that... "Not that that stretches to the buying of tea or confectionery"... Of course, Mrs Crocome, we understand.

[@samuelline9573]

Fun fact: the baking powder we use today is very different from the kind used in the Victorian Era. Now it has less of a flavor and is double acting, meaning it works both before and during the baking process.

[@neontate413]

less soapy flavour for us

[@chocolatnoir1108]

@@neontate413yesss😂

[@hollyarrharr5238]

My grandad was brought up by Victorian parents- his mother was an excellent baker & he loved when she would made seed cakes! Later in life he developed Alzheimer’s, but luckily this memory came back to him, once I knew that, I decided to make them for him every weekend- thank you for keeping this recipe alive! 😊

[@saifullee4288]

Care to share your family's recipe holly?

[@BronzeTheSling]

Sweet story. Would love to know the recipe.

[@itschelseakay]

I love that! How sweet that you made it for him 🥹 The magical feeling of home even when you can’t necessarily remember much about it 💕

[@discendus]

So sweeeeet! Hope you and grandad better 🥰

[@Anne--Marie]

Did your husband's mother also use caraway seeds?

[@sampayne8134]

Idk why but when Mrs. Crocombe gave herself a slice of that seed cake I got so happy for her 😂

[@njrib]

“I’m going to have my slice now.” Yesssss Mrs C, who runs that kitchen??!?

[@SeriouslyPointTaken]

We visited Audley End House at the weekend for our anniversary (should've visited sooner as we live so close!) and I was amazed at the sheer size of both the house and gardens! It may have been the largest stately home I've visited. The grounds are beautiful and vast, great to explore, and the restoration of the house and kitchens, with recordings and projections, really create the atmosphere of a bustling working house (which I think is the only thing missing from these videos, though it's understandable when you remember English Heritage is a charity rather than a great big production company). My partner's nan remembers visiting before the restoration, when the kitchen and house were pretty bare, and was amazed at the change when we showed her the guidebook we brought back. I think the memory of looking back at the house lit in the golden light of the late afternoon sun, the glistening river Cam running through the grounds in front with geese serenely floating downstream, will stay with me for a long time. It was a fantastic day

[@SharpAssKnittingNeedles]

What a lovely description! As an american, it surprises me that a lowly baron was able to assemble such an amazing house!

[@ifyouloveChristyouwillobeyhim]

You'd be surprised, I mean see Mr. Darcy's house; he's only a "mere" gentleman!

[@SharpAssKnittingNeedles]

@@ifyouloveChristyouwillobeyhim isn't his house an actual place? And no doubt of higher order than the barony 😘

[@ifyouloveChristyouwillobeyhim]

@@SharpAssKnittingNeedles Yes! You can find cool videos about where it was filmed on KZbin. Also Mr. Darcy is a real man, and he's out there, waiting for you! . . . at least that's what I tell myself. . . .

[@mrclueuin]

💀👈Me, dying of envy here! 😄 Seriously, so glad that you enjoyed your tour. Want to fly to England one day and take the rail to Audley End myself. ✈🚂🏡

[@AngelaGWillis]

One tip for Ms.C, mix in a small amount of your egg whites and stir like mad to lighten the entire batter, before gently folding in the rest. It helps the batter to be more easily distributed within the egg whites so that that the most air pockets remain and the cake stays lighter.

[@Sally4th_]

I came here to say the same. Watching poor Kathy trying to "gently" mix in the whites to that heavy batter had me wincing! Oh and it's easier if you switch to a metal spoon and use a cutting action.

[@manuela_esse]

@@Sally4th_ this is how things were made back then. If the metal spoon was not used, it's not accurate to use one

[@arpadczyliwampir]

@@manuela_esse and that modern whisk was accurate?...

[@manuela_esse]

@@arpadczyliwampir i said spoon. Metal whisks might have been used, it's possible, but maybe spoons were mostly wooden. I am talking about spoons

[@uptoolate2793]

@@manuela_esse Yeah, no. I don't that's it. Kathy, while a wonderful Mrs. C. in character, isn't actually a cook or baker in real life. She has no idea what's she's doing from and instinctive cook's perspective. But we love her for what she brings to the table and largely ignore the riff.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Mrs. Crocombe is an icon, a legend, and she is the moment. Also, the uncrowned Queen of Shade 🔥 She threw shade at people who don’t believe in ‘Vocal for Local’, except of course when some bougie people get sweeties and tea from London. You’re untrained if you use chemical additives.

[@dawne6419]

She threw so much shade this video, it's a wonder there's any sun in England today! 😃

[@bels3873]

Feeling like such a pleb right now because I buy my confectionery locally. Thanks, Mrs Crocombe.

[@JsgHair71]

I felt personally attacked for my use of baking soda 🤣

[@reincarnationofalovebird]

For this recipe, you will need...shade

[@JpopFanBoy]

You sure she was cooking in the kitchen and not the library? 🤣

[@GeezNutz]

I now have the life goal of sitting at the Upper Servant's table.

[@lescoop]

Waiting eagerly for "For this recipe, you will need..."

[@sharimeline3077]

I swear if she ever stops saying that I will flip tables

[@puppsmcgee74]

I recall my mother, who was a great cook, telling me years ago that one way to ensure you have stiff peaks in your egg whites is to use a bit of cream of tartar. But Mrs. Crocombe just shut that down with a quickness. lol

[@ilselindberg6557]

I've never found cream of tartar to be necessary, but if the egg whites are fighting you, a few drops of vinegar help a lot

[@kyrab7914]

Thank you for specifying which larder Mrs Crocombe, never would've thought about the hot kitchen

[@jonirnmomba4130]

Mrs Crocombe is extra saucy today. And I’m living for it.

[@AntonDogg]

She is an entire mood today and it's sensational!

[@miji6267]

Because she cannot join the tea evening!!😂

[@maxinezook3835]

I remembered this right away because this was one of the treats that Mrs. Crocombe sent to America for the Townsends that Mr Townsend & his daughter enjoyed. I hope they do another crossover between this channel & that one in the future 😊

[@eddieboyky]

She was in rare form today! Lots of good old Victorian shade flying around that kitchen.

[@Ea-Nasir_Copper_Co]

Seed cake is incredibly good. Anyone reading this, save this recipe to make!

[@havanadaurcy1321]

What seed is used? I know I sound like my grandma asking it

[@Daria-L]

@@havanadaurcy1321 It's caraway seeds. There's recipe in the description of the video.

[@Ohhhwehere]

or just buy the cook book and go cray cray ❤

[@thekingsdaughter4233]

@@Daria-L and not very much of it. Only 3/4 of a teaspoon? My caraway seed loving son will be disappointed. He puts at least twice as much on his pizza... 😄

[@sharimeline3077]

@@thekingsdaughter4233 Caraway is so strong, that's why. But I bet you could put in as many seeds as you like. :)

[@rhyfelwrDuw]

Nothing like a moth or a bug in the flour to add some protein to any recipe! 😂 I love these Mrs Crocombe videos!

[@annyoung1579]

Or a mouse !!

[@suzanrudulph4141]

It wouldn't be Mrs. Crocombe without Kathy. She plays her so well. 🙂

[@akaneh1989]

I've been interested in seed cake ever since I read The Hobbit, I must admit, so it's really delightful to see it featured here!

[@Viscount_Castlereagh]

That is where I heard of it from! I always imagined it coated in seeds.

[@juliojimenez937]

I just love Kathy Hipperson. She is such a good actress. I hope she throws some shade at us peasants LOL.

[@fillyjonkfillyjonk5682]

I first learned about seedcake in Agatha Christie's At Bertram's hotel. Would love to see how it is made.

[@Myr25636]

I made a classic recipe and it was good but I did add vanilla extract.

[@rodittis]

SAME! I loved that book.

[@kshaw2307]

Same!

[@HBHaga]

I came across it in The Mysterious Affair at Styles, same author of course.

[@thekingsdaughter4233]

That book has me wondering about _muffins._ What ARE proper muffins...? 🤔😞

[@thisfatgirlruns6710]

Jane Eyre has seed cake with her teacher at one point and I always wondered what it would taste like. Now I have a good idea and one day hope to make this!

[@farah_nm162]

Bruh, this is the exact reason why i came here!!!😭😭

[@vanilleclassique]

Yes ! Tea time with Miss Temple and Helen

[@farah_nm162]

@@vanilleclassique and then my Helen died of typhus😭😭😭

[@lost422011]

This is why I'm Here at this moment. I'm re- reading Jane Eyre for about the 10th time .....well I'm listening this time....and enjoying it immensely as usual.

[@srlee203]

I'd love to see how the kitchen would be with all the staff at full speed. It just seems too calm lol!

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Quote of the Day: “It’s very popular with all classes although less seen on elegant tables.”

[@bobbieblue1885]

I would love to see an episode of the lord and lady eating and enjoying Mrs Crocombes' food 😄

[@connorkilpatrick6283]

All hail the Queen of Shade and good food.

[@foxykc]

In ""The Hobbit" Bilbo Baggin despair when the dwarves start showing up because he has to sacrifice his seed cake to them which he had been planning to enjoy for himself. I have wondered since 1966 what seed cake was and now I know.

[@LunarisArts]

The way she separates those eggs are a thing of beauty! I could never do that myself... might be due to the eggs I buy, and the shells being rather thin and frail.

[@MariahIsSkinnyFuckBlueLives]

I separate eggs the same way as her, I do accidentally break the yolk on the jagged shell edge sometimes tho

[@charlieblah]

The way she obviously scrambles her eggs but still looks at us like we're all peasants 😆😆😆

[@alaksandra1979]

Mrs. Crocrumbe with a whisk and Bob Ross with a brush can beat the devil very easily.

[@manramen]

This is exciting since this is the cake she sent to Mr. Townsend in America.

[@treyporter7611]

I'm wondering if Bilbo's seed cakes were anything like this one? I imagine they might have been

[@jessicinderwitch6371]

Possible, because Tolkien was british himself and therefore grew up with british culture and cuisine.

[@TherealDanielleNelson]

Yeah. They would have been.

[@Aurora-qn2dx]

Yay! Seed cake reminds me of middle earth.. looking foward to the recepe.

[@janeunion8748]

Indeed, I think Bilbo had seed cake when he first entertained the dwarves of Thorin Oakenshield’s company.

[@Tazzie1312]

"It's the kind of cake you'll be presented at if you visit an inn." Yes, of course, as I often do.

[@angeliquephillips8746]

My cat and I greatly enjoy your videos .tonight he spotted it before me and slapped the screen to play this video before bed

[@MJK1965]

Perfect for the top servant's table. Of course if she were going to serve it to Lord and Lady Braybrooke, she would make it look a bit more elegant. Love you Mrs. C.

[@tracybartels7535]

This is lovely- some 40 years after Bilbo Baggins served a seed cake, I finally know what it is. Now, all I have to do is find a place in North Carolina that serves it, as I myself am not much of a cook and my teenage daughter who is, is a teenager and not amenable to my whims.

[@jennil7797]

My domestic science teacher in the mid 60s was as much of a shade thrower as Mrs. C when it came to chemical additives. Baking powder, artificial, rather than fruit or vegetable food dyes or margarine were not allowed in her classes. As for confectionary, all that was not made at home, or preferably under her gaze at school, she declared to be a recipe against we girls ever being married because of the rotten teeth and flabby flesh commercial sweeties would cause us 😂😂😂

[@StayVCA98]

Seed Cake huh... interesting, and this why is one of the reasons I love this kinds of shows, like you get to learn almost everything in it from the history, societal norms back then, to historical foods and preps of it, I have to say it is rather archaic but also quite humble really, really thankful for this whole thing that it came possible, from the history of the Audley End, to the real Mrs. Crocombe to its passionate historical representation, just thank you som much really!! 😍

[@MossyMozart]

@STAY 💗 17VCA ⤮ - It is a shame that the original Mrs Crocombe never knew about her 21st Century fandom.

[@OiishiNoAnko]

I would love an unboxing of tea and confectionery sent from London

[@yvonnetomenga5726]

What surprised me was that Mrs. C added the whipped egg whites all at one. Most other recipes I've seen where eggs provide the leavening call for adding 1/3 of the whipped whites to lighten the mixture, then gently fold in the remaining 2/3. Something to test out as the weather cools & baking takes the forefront.

[@kittenamy1]

The day is always better with a little sass from Mrs. Crocombe

[@PokhrajRoy.]

No bugs, moths or chaff in the flour at Audley End but Mrs. Crocombe has the 411 on some unethical flour mills.

[@summerhope4419]

Visiting Audley End is definitely one of my bucket list

[@beee_editz]

I love seeing Mrs. C cook she is an icon but it’s also some ASMR idk these videos with old recipes really are amazing Thank you English heritage 😭❤️

[@angelam3517]

I swear I could hear her corset creaking as she stirred the cake!

[@lindseysharon259]

Thank you for having her slice into the cake. I always wonder what this food looks like when served!

[@tigerslioncub]

I'm so glad Mrs. Crocombe decided to make seed cake. It has been one of my favourite treats for quite a few years, ever since my grandmother taught me how to make it. I still whip one up now and then, as a tribute to her.

[@taraelizabethdensley9475]

I've never tried it

[@genny9026]

My grandmother used to make this. It’s great to see the recipe being made ! She and my late mother also made peppermint creams, coconut pyramids, Turkish delight, toffee, fudge and peanut brittle. I didn’t like sweets and still don’t but learned how to make them all from granny and mum. I think it’s sad that so many cooking skills have been lost ie fewer people are able to do it all. It really doesn’t take much time and is cheaper than buying many readymade foods.

[@CFinch360]

On the other hand, given the popularity of cooking videos like Chef John, and of the Instant Pot, could be that more & more people-especially during COVID- are learning how to cook and bake.

The level of comfort I reach watching Mrs. Crocombe's videos is unbeatable 💖

[@karenm.2185]

I love this woman! More Mrs. Crocombe please!!

[@sunniejjordan7389]

I’ve read books set in Victorian times that mentioned seed cake and always wondered what kind of seeds the cake contained

[@niseplank4527]

Alas, caraway.

[@cherylcrozier-garcia8862]

Being shamed by Mrs. Crocombe is sweeter than being complimented by a dear friend.

[@pastorjillk]

I would love to see some more of what the servants ate. I know some boiled/steamed puddings have been done but what was an actual meal for them like.

[@clogs4956]

I always admire how easily Mrs Crocombe beats egg whites to frothy or meringue consistency.

[@Ea-Nasir_Copper_Co]

Egg whites do indeed beat up faster in a copper bowl.

[@sharimeline3077]

Well they cut away here and there, I'm sure it took a little longer :)

[@isayahsnow2767]

@@Ea-Nasir_Copper_Co I use a cool, steel bowl since I don't have copper and it also works very well! Just a few minutes of anger whisking and I have meringue!

[@maddyhurricks5122]

Oops why didn't she add salt to the egg whites to improve the froth?

[@lisanstan1]

@@maddyhurricks5122 Because that would indicate she is not well trained. See: baking powder.

[@phineas117]

OUR QUEEN RETURNS. love Mrs. Crocombe!! BTW in "the sherlock holmes cookbook" fanny craddock......lists "seed cake" as Holmes favourite. "I'll have mine NOW" you go Mrs. Crocombe.

[@maraduryea3944]

So that's what Bilbo liked to eat.😃

[@marcuscarana9240]

7:52 I love how she went back to do the final scene.

[@grittylilfremont745]

I don’t know which is more entertaining, Mrs. C or all the comments from her faithful, snarky viewers!

[@samx36]

I never knew the egg white trick and wanna try it now. I always have bad luck with baking powder, so I might as well try a Mrs. C's recommendation!

[@VledTapas]

The shade was unleashed in this one. Can't wait to see mrs Crocombe in the snatch game !

[@sharimeline3077]

Wait, someone's gonna do Mrs. C on Snatch Game? Halleloo!

[@VledTapas]

@@sharimeline3077 Not yet but it must be am I right ?

[@flowertrue]

Mrs. Crocombe's videos are always a treat, both fun and interesting. Having read many books which mention seed cake, I'm glad to finally know what it actually consist of and why it was so popular.

[@qwertyTRiG]

I was immediately put in mind of Arthur Ransome's _Swallows & Amazons_ series, wherein the kids eat seed cake fairly often. Interesting that I wasn't the only one whose mind went to books.

[@jyusatsu]

This is the first time to watch a new Mrs. Crocombe recipe video. I just came across their videos of her weeks ago and I already liked her character and wit ☺️

[@MossyMozart]

@Jyusatus - This Mrs Crocombe is based on the real Victorian cook at Audley End whose actual recipe notebook has been discovered. The cookbook that is for sale includes the original recipes as written by Mrs Crocombe the First and modernized versions for today's cooks.

[@mikakestudios5891]

I've read about seed cake for decades. This will feed 12 year old me.

[@shlokamsrivastava6782]

'Badly trained girl' I loved that bit 😂🤣

[@justinrad5073]

Mrs. Crocombe is a legend. I get so excited everytime there's a new video. ❤️🇬🇧

[@wickidbloodymetalqueen7901]

RUNS IN AND HUGS MRS.CROCOMBE TO DEATH😍🤍🤗💟🥰💕🤗!!!!! washes my hands and sits patiently waiting to make pie!!!

[@thumpercomet3856]

She really threw all the local confectioners under the carriage.

[@cynthiatolman326]

If you incorporate about a third of the egg whites first, it loosens the batter, making it easier to fold in the remaining whites and retaining more air. I think being the cook in such a wealthy house would be a very prestigious position.

[@positivelybeautiful1]

As I am watching, I cannot help but think that Ms. Crocombe & her servants have more class today than most of us modern women.😊❤️Good acting & good recipes. I will give it a try. Thank you from FL.

[@RosieDuck]

NOT THAT WE GET ANTYHING LIKE THAT HERE

[@jeffcarty3292]

By chance or by premonition, I made this about a week ago. Almost the same recipe, even whisking the egg whites, except I used a little sour cream not milk. It's a stiff, light pound cake flavored with caraway.

[@spacewolfcub]

Thanks for explaining.

[@jeffcarty3292]

@@spacewolfcub You're welcome! My only advice is, not bake it quite as long as Mrs Crocombe says / see that it doesn't dry.

[@c.m.5679]

@@jeffcarty3292 You're a self-important bully. Nobody cares what you bake, and nobody will take your word over Mrs. Crocombe's. Go spread your irritating negativity elsewhere. You can't even tell that spacewolfcub was mocking you.

[@andreagriffiths3512]

Mrs C knows full well that if she didn’t take her slice then, there’d be none left for her when she finally gets to have her tea.

[@Ea-Nasir_Copper_Co]

Those dastardly chemical additions!! 🤣

[@mustelidify]

"Is it REAL seed-cake?" "Oh yes, madam - our cook has had the receipt for years." 😏

[@madabbafan]

From - Miss Marple: At Bertrams Hotel if my memory is correct.

[@Cent4man]

Mrs Crocombe, Squeeeeeeeee!!!!!’ This gives me joy

[@fafh01]

Thanks to anyone who invented the electric whisk. Nowaday we can whisk egg whites without going to the hospital

[@shadowmaster8684]

I’d love to see a video of all the servants who work for Lord and lady Baybrook. And explaining the hierarchy. It’s always interested me.

[@thecosmicradiation]

I wonder if one day we will ever see Mrs Crocombe expecting our arrival, rather than being pleasantly surprised by it.

[@wizzzard999]

You cannot fathom how much joy watching this series and Mrs. C brings me! Long live the Queen of Shade

[@SaltySeaWitch3]

That butter and sugar were well mixed, but not quite creamed together, that's why the batter was so dense.

[@FloresOrtodoxas]

I think another 5 minutes of Mrs C. Throwing utter shade is long overdue.

[@meee4217]

I normally pick the caraway seed off any bread I eat, but for Mrs. C., I would make an exception.

[@Johannseb41]

These videos are inspired! Thanks for continuing this series!

[@MildredCady]

Today has been a fantastic day. First I get a Life of Boris episode (and it’s a cooking one!), and now I have a visit from Mrs Crocombe.

[@jadebabydoll23]

me too! lol

[@kellyzavandro456]

15 hrs til release & 195 have already liked it 😍

[@sharimeline3077]

Everyone knows Mrs. C won't disappoint.

[@stanlygirl5951]

Sounds reasonable to me. ❤

[@GammyHog]

🤗🤗Hello Fellow Mrs. Crocombe Fans 🤗🤗

[@nzmoggy3898]

A Stainless Steel whisk Mrs Crocombe - How modern!

[@sunspot42]

Yeah that whisk doesn’t look period accurate to me at all. Stainless steel wasn’t even invented until 1913. If whisks like that one even existed back then, they’d have to be made out of copper or - more likely - some sort of wood or bamboo or something.

[@nzmoggy3898]

@@sunspot42 Exactly. They usually get everything right that why it jarred so much.

[@shalomleftismisalie3470]

Can't wait! I think I heard about it in one of the novels from Victorian era.

[@sharimeline3077]

I've never had caraway seeds in anything sweet. They have such a distinct flavor, and I can't imagine that flavor with sugar at all!

[@artinaam]

They go surprisingly nicely with sweet things. Candied caraway seeds were used in desserts since the middle ages.

[@sonjaevans4742]

Mrs C's tea cup is the same Royal Albert China as mine lol. 😄The cake looks yummy. ♥️

[@asimpnamedval4950]

We stan supporting local businesses

[@BluddEHell]

Love how Mrs Crocombe throws shade at baking powder, exactly the same way as old school home economics teachers of the 1960s & 1970s threw shade at self raising flour. Source, an old school home eco teacher Aunty, who to this day insists you’re not doing it right if you cheat with Self raising flour!

[@maryannsarkady7950]

Love these videos !

[@julieyeo1540]

Good gosh, the shade she threw on using baking powder.. I’m not an avid baker in the slightest, yet I felt the overwhelming need to apologise.. 😂

[@kelp5801]

Mrs. Crocombe, enemy of the baking powder

[@jessiewalls1289]

I just love these videos so much!