Today’s recipe for Fry’s Condensed Milk Chocolate Cake is an incredible vintage cake recipe from 1923 Fry’s Cocoa recipe booklet.
*Scroll to end of the post for the recipe*
![Fry's Condensed Milk Chocolate Cake](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG-0439-1.jpg?resize=905%2C1024&ssl=1)
A Fabulous Vintage Cake Recipe from 1923
![Fry's Condensed Milk Chocolate Cake](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG-0265.jpg?resize=624%2C1024&ssl=1)
Today’s recipe for Fry’s Condensed Milk Chocolate Cake is an incredible vintage cake recipe from 1923 Fry’s Cocoa recipe booklet.
It’s a proper old fashioned chocolate cake, using the rubbed in fat method, with 1/4 pint (150ml) condensed milk, cocoa, SR flour, baking powder, an egg, stork margarine, a little fresh milk, vanilla extract and caster sugar.
The recipe doesn’t suggest adding buttercream or icing, and it was delicious just the way it was. But, you could add buttercream or icing if you wish – maybe for a celebratory cake.
![Fry's Condensed Milk Chocolate Cake](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG-0441.jpg?resize=834%2C1024&ssl=1)
The cake has a shiny finish – probably due to the condensed milk. It has a light, crumbly crumb, and a lovely rich cocoa taste.
I’ve shared the original recipe, and as you can see from my printable recipe card below, I haven’t edited or changed the recipe at all, it was made exactly as it was printed in 1923, almost 100 years ago now.
Serve this cake with pouring cream, or slightly warm, in the style of a “pudding cake”. As I said above, you can add frosting, icing or buttercream if you wish, which I may do next time I make this cake.
![Fry's Condensed Milk Chocolate Cake](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG-0363.jpg?resize=827%2C1024&ssl=1)
The Ingredients:
- 6ozs SR Flour
- 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
- 2 Tablespoons Fry’s Cocoa (I used Cadbury’s Bournville cocoa)
- 4ozs margarine
- 3ozs sugar
- 1/4 pint sweetened condensed milk
- 1 egg
- Vanilla essence (I used vanilla extract)
- About 3 to 4 tablespoons milk
![Fry's Condensed Milk Chocolate Cake ingredients](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG-0364-1.jpg?resize=829%2C1024&ssl=1)
The Ingredients in Metric:
- 170g SR flour
- 10g baking powder
- 30g cocoa
- 115g margarine
- 85g sugar
- 150mls sweetened condensed milk
- 45 to 60mls milk
![Fry's Condensed Milk Chocolate Cake](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG-0362.jpg?resize=829%2C1024&ssl=1)
More about Fry’s and Fry’s Cocoa
A little more about Fry’s – Fry’s, was a British chocolate company owned by Joseph Storrs Fry and his family.
Beginning in Bristol in the 18th century, the business went through several changes of name and ownership, becoming J S Fry & Sons in 1822.
In 1847, Fry’s produced the first solid chocolate bar, and the company also created the first filled chocolate sweet, Cream Sticks, in 1853.
![Fry's Vintage Poster](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Fry_Chocloate_postcard_by_Tom_Browne.jpg?resize=980%2C629&ssl=1)
Fry’s is most famous for Fry’s Chocolate Cream, which I always used to have in my Christmas Stocking, which was the first mass-produced chocolate bar.
Fry’s Turkish Delight, launched in 1914, was another Christmas stocking treat that I used to look forward to when I was growing up.
![Fry's Vintage Poster](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Frys_five_boys_milk_chocolate.jpg?resize=776%2C1024&ssl=1)
Fry’s, along with Rowntree’s and Cadbury’s were all founded by Quakers, and these three chocolate companies were renowned for treating their workers very well, especially during the Victorian era.
Sadly, Fry’s Somerdale Factory near Bristol was closed after the 2010, after the hostile takeover of Cadbury’s by Kraft Foods* of which Fry’s was a part of.
*In February 2010, following the takeover of Cadbury plc by Kraft Foods, the closure was controversially confirmed to take place in 2011; Kraft had specifically agreed during the takeover battle to keep the site open. There was widespread outrage in the press and later a House of Commons Select Committee investigation into the affair. Wikipedia
![Fry's Condensed Milk Chocolate Cake](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG-0443.jpg?resize=980%2C1024&ssl=1)
More Chocolate Cake Recipes:
- Old-Fashioned Milk Chocolate Cake
- The Famous Drinking Chocolate Cake Recipe
- The Queen’s Chocolate Biscuit Cake
![Old Fashioned Milk Chocolate Cake](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/IMG_9302.jpeg?resize=961%2C1200&ssl=1)
![Galaxy Chocolate, World Baking Day and The Famous Drinking Chocolate Cake Recipe](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/DSC_0111.jpg?resize=980%2C678&ssl=1)
![The Queen's Chocolate Biscuit Cake](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/IMG_3611.jpeg?resize=980%2C1116&ssl=1)
- Romantic “Chocolate Box” Chocolate Cakes
- “Kladdkaka” Swedish Chocolate Fudge Cake
- Chocolate Crispy Cakes for VE Day
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Chocolate-Box-Cakes-16-2.jpg?resize=844%2C1200&ssl=1)
!["Kladdkaka" Swedish Chocolate Fudge Cake](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Swedish-Chocolate-Cake-16.jpg?resize=848%2C1200&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Chocolate-Crispy-Cakes-for-VE-Day.jpeg?resize=900%2C1200&ssl=1)
Pin me for Later
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Vintage Recipes:
- A Vintage Recipe: Queen Cakes
- Farmhouse “Teacup” Spiced Fruit Loaf Recipe
- Vanilla Butterfly Cakes
- Old School Raspberry Buns
- Old-Fashioned Almond Rice Cakes
- Old-Fashioned Tea Cake Squares
![Fry's Condensed Milk Chocolate Cake](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG-0438.jpg?resize=827%2C1024&ssl=1)
More Vintage Recipes:
- Hikers’ Walnut Bread
- Manor House Cake
- Overnight Country Fruit Bread
- VE Day Condensed Milk Cake
- Easy Cornflake Tart
- Traditional “Bara Brith” Tea Loaf
![Fry's Condensed Milk Chocolate Cake](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG-0435-1.jpg?resize=887%2C1024&ssl=1)
Recipe for Fry’s Condensed Milk Chocolate Cake
![Fry's Condensed Milk Chocolate Cake](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG-0435.jpg?resize=720%2C720&ssl=1)
Fry's Condensed Milk Chocolate Cake
Today's recipe for Fry's Condensed Milk Chocolate Cake is an incredible vintage cake recipe from 1923 Fry’s Cocoa recipe booklet.
It’s a proper old fashioned chocolate cake, using the rubbed in fat method, with 1/4 pint (150ml) condensed milk, cocoa, SR flour, baking powder, an egg, stork margarine, a little fresh milk, vanilla extract and caster sugar.
The recipe doesn’t suggest adding buttercream or icing, and it was delicious just the way it was. But, you could add buttercream or icing if you wish - maybe for a celebratory cake.
The cake has a shiny finish - probably due to the condensed milk. It has a light, crumbly crumb, and a lovely rich cocoa taste.
Ingredients
- 6ozs SR Flour
- 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
- 2 tablespoons Fry's Cocoa (I used Cadbury's Bournville cocoa)
- 4ozs margarine
- 3ozs sugar
- 1/4 pint sweetened condensed milk
- 1 egg
- Vanilla essence (I used vanilla extract)
- About 3 to 4 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Sieve the flour, baking powder and cocoa.
- Rub in the fat.
- Add the sugar, stir in the condensed milk, then the egg, vanilla essence and milk to mix.
- Bake in a 6-inch cake tin in a moderate oven (375F) fro about 1 hour
Notes
Ingredients in Metric:
170g SR flour
10g baking powder
30g cocoa
115g margarine
85g sugar
150mls condensed milk
45 to 60mls milk
Oven temperature:
190C
Gas mark 5
![Fry's Condensed Milk Chocolate Cake](https://i0.wp.com/www.lavenderandlovage.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/IMG-0447.jpg?resize=831%2C1024&ssl=1)
ARNAB says
This is so nice cake. I have to try myself.
ARNAB says
I like milk and chocolate. If you add both, it will be so tasty.
Sherry M says
gotta love an old fashioned cake recipe!
Sally says
Karen, my first two attempts are now in the oven. Do you know of anywhere local to Louth that sells 6″ pape baking cases’? I know it is easy to get 6″ base liners but I must confess I do like paper baking cases for my tins. The smallest ones that Lakeland appear to offer are 7″. Thank you, Sally
Karen Burns-Booth says
Hi Sally – I am sorry but I don’t know of anywhere in Louth – I got mine ages ago online – sorry! Karen