Amish Shoo-fly Cake Recipe

225 g/8 oz butter or margarine, softened
225 g/8 oz/2 cups plain (all-purpose) flour
225 g/8 oz/2 cups wholemeal (wholewheat) flour
450 g/1 lb/2 cups soft brown sugar

350 g/12 oz black treacle (molasses)
10 ml/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
450 ml/2 cups boiling water

Method:

Rub the butter or margarine into the flours until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar. Set aside 100 g/4 oz/1 cup of the mixture for the topping. Mix together the treacle, bicarbonate of soda and water and stir into the flour mixture just until the dry ingredients have been absorbed. Spoon into a greased and floured 23 x 30 cm/ 9 x 12 in cake tin (pan) and sprinkle with the reserved mixture. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C/350°F/gas mark 4 for 35 minutes until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Serve warm.