St. Lukes of the Mountains Recipe Collection
Hartshorn's Medieval Soul Cakes

1 c. butter
3 3/4 c. sifted flour
1 cup fine sugar
1/4 t. nutmeg
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. ginger
1 t. allspice
2 eggs
2 t. cider vinegar
4-6 T. milk
Powdered sugar to sprinkle on top

Oven 350 degrees

Cut the butter into the flour. Blend sugar, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, adn allspice. Beat eggs, vinegar and milk together. Mix with the flour until stiff dough is formed. Knead thoroughly and roll out 1/4 inch thick. Cut into 3 inch rounds and placed on greased baking sheet. Prick several times with a fork and bake 20-25 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar while still warm.

Medieval soul cakes (or simply "souls") were given to children and the poor (soulers) who went singing door to door during Allhallowtide, and offering to pray for the "souls of the givers and their departed friends" in exchange for a cake. This was the origin of "trick or treat"

Recipe Contributed by Rev. Hartshorn Murphy