Romonia Daniel of Southern Girl Bakery won the popular vote for Best Appearance at the Orange Cake Bake-Off, pictured here with event organizer Sarah Robbitts-Terry of the Portsmouth Historical Society..
Portsmouth’s Famous Orange Cake may not be a household name today, but the recipe stretches back to the days of our earliest settlers. This past Mother’s Day, Portsmouth Historical Society and Strawbery Banke brought it back into the spotlight at Springfest, hosting an Orange Cake Bake-Off that celebrated modern takes on this over 250-year-old recipe.
Where did the Orange Cake come from? The earliest published recipe for the Portsmouth Orange Cake comes from Ralph Green’s 1894 cookbook, Green’s Receipt Book. Green, a local Portsmouth confectioner, caterer, and drug store owner, already calls the recipe “famous” in his book, confirming that its origins stretch much further back. Portsmouth Historical Society Director of Education, Sarah Robbitts-Terry, faithfully recreated the historic recipe, noting, “Green’s historic recipe is similar to an angel food cake and uses simple ingredients. While keen bakers might notice the lack of butter, oil, or other leaveners, the icing and fresh orange slices more than make up for it. You end up with a perfect, bright, and refreshing summer cake!”
Saturday’s Bake-Off was not about a faithful reproduction, but rather a modern take on the Orange Cake, inspired by the hundred-year-plus recipe. Visitors were invited to vote for their favorite cake based on appearance, choosing from entries by Beach Pea Baking Co, Ceres Street Bakery, Popovers on the Square, and A Southern Girl Bakery. The panel of judges, made up of Linnea Grim, Strawbery Banke President and CEO, and Emma Stratton, Portsmouth Historical Society Executive Director, voted for Best in Show based on creativity, taste, and texture
Congratulations to our winners:
Best Appearance (public vote): A Southern Girl Bakery “Orange You Lovely”
Best in Show (Judges Award): Beach Pea Baking Co. “Colonial Trade Winds Cake”
Best in Show Winner:
Colonial Trade Winds Cake
by Beach Pea Baking Co.
Best Appearance:
Orange You Lovely
by A Southern Girl Bakery
Craving a slice of Portsmouth Orange Cake? Head to Popovers on the Square to taste their classic take on the recipe, available by the slice daily. Or try your hand at the 1894 recipe included below:
ABOUT The PORTSMOUTH HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Portsmouth Historical Society’s museums and programs connect the community to our past, present, and future through collections, interpretation, education, and preservation. It operates two facilities: the Welcome Center and Galleries and the John Paul Jones House. The Portsmouth Historical Society serves as a cultural hub for Portsmouth, providing visitors and the community with rotating exhibitions, dynamic programming, historic walking tours, and a museum shop of unique Portsmouth gifts and books. Located at 10 Middle Street, they are open daily from 10am-5pm, from April through December. For further information, please call 603-436-8433 or visit PortsmouthHistory.org.