Some time ago, I was reading an American history book by Amy Puetz that shared what has to be one of the tastiest ways ever to do Bible study as a family. The project is called a Scripture cake. Some historians believe the idea started with the Puritans, but others disagree. We will probably never know for sure where the idea got started, but it is a fun way to bake eternal truths into your heart and the hearts of your children.
The Puritans had a simple but clever way to write a recipe in a code that required a thorough knowledge of your Bible to decipher. In order to write the code, first take a recipe and replace all the ingredients (or as many of them as possible) with Scripture references. The Puritans used the King James Bible, so that is what we’ll use for our example, but you can use whatever version your family prefers.
Here are just some of the many foods you can find in the Bible as well as one or more passages that reference them:
Nuts:
- Almonds: Genesis 43:11
Herbs and Spices:
- Anise: Matthew 23:23
- Bay: Psalm 37:35
- Calamus: Exodus 30:23; Song of Solomon 4:14
- Cinnamon: Exodus 30:23; Song of Solomon 4:14
- Coriander: Exodus 16:31
- Cummin (Cumin): Matthew 23:23
- Mint: Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42
- Mustard: Matthew 13:31-32; Matthew 17:20
- Myrtle: Isaiah 55:13
- Rue: Luke 11:42
Fruit:
- Apple: Proverbs 25:11; Joel 1:12
- Figs: Deuteronomy 8:8; Joel 1:12; John 1:48
- Melons: Numbers 11:5
- Mulberry: 2 Samuel 5:23-24
- Olive: Genesis 8:11; Deuteronomy 8:8
- Pomegranate: Numbers 13:23; Numbers 20:5; Deuteronomy 8:8; Haggai 2:19
- Pulse: 2 Samuel 17:28; Daniel 1:12
- Grapes: Leviticus 19:10; Numbers 13:23; Isaiah 5:2
Vegetables:
- Beans: 2 Samuel 17:28; Ezekiel 4:9
- Corn: Genesis 41:57; 1 Samuel 17:17; Matthew 12:1
- Cucumber: Numbers 11:5
- Garlic: Numbers 11:5
- Gourd: 2 Kings 4:39
- Leeks: Numbers 11:5
- Lentiles (Lentils): Genesis 25:34; 2 Samuel 17:28; Ezekiel 4:9
- Onion: Numbers 11:5
Grain:
- Barley: Deuteronomy 8:8; Ruth 2:23
- Millet: Ezekiel 4:9
- Rie (Rye): Exodus 9:32
- Wheat: Exodus 9:32; Exodus 29:2; Exodus 34:22; Ezra 6:9
Other Ingredients:
- Honey: Deuteronomy 8:8; Psalm 19:10
- Fish: Numbers 11:5
- Water: Numbers 20:5
- Flour: 2 Samuel 17:28
- Sweet Cane (Sugar): Jeremiah 6:20
- Salt: Leviticus 2:13; Matthew 5:13
- Butter: Psalm 55:21
- Oil: Psalm 55:21
- Raisin: 2 Samuel 16:1
- Egg: Isaiah 10:14
So instead of 3/4 cup sugar, write 3/4 cup Jeremiah 6:20, and instead of 1/2 teaspoon salt, write 1/2 teaspoon Leviticus 2:13.
If it’s a verse like Psalm 55:21 that references more than one possible ingredient, include a partial quote so your kids can identify the right part of the verse. For example, for 1/2 cup butter, you can write 1/2 cup Psalm 55:21 “smoother than . . . “ but for 1/2 cup oil, you can write 1/2 cup Psalm 55:21 “softer than . . .”
Let’s try this with a real recipe, a spice cake courtesy of my great-grandmother! (Please note: This cake is very heavy, almost like a fruit cake. Sometimes chopped cherries, candied pineapple, chopped dates, and chopped nuts are added to make this an actual fruit cake.)
Here are the coded ingredients that you’ll need:
- 1 box (app. 16 oz.) of 2 Samuel 16:1
- 2 cups Jeremiah 6:20
- ¾ cup shortening
- 2 cups black coffee (measure as a liquid, not the grounds)
- 2 tsp. Exodus 30:23
- ½ tsp. allspice
- ¼ tsp. cloves
- 4 cups 2 Samuel 17:28
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 2 tsp. baking soda
- ½ cup Numbers 20:5 (make sure it’s hot)
- 2 tsp. vanilla
Once your kids have decoded the recipe, you can check their answers against the original recipe and start cooking!
- 1 box raisins (app. 16 oz.)
- 2 cups brown or white sugar
- ¾ cup shortening
- 2 cups black coffee (measure as a liquid, not the grounds)
- 2 tsp. cinnamon
- ½ tsp. allspice
- ¼ tsp. cloves
- 4 cups flour
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 2 tsp. baking soda
- ½ cup hot water
- 2 tsp. vanilla
Steps to making spice cake:
- Mix raisins, sugar, shortening, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves with black coffee. Cook for 15 min. Take from stove and let cool app. 20 min.
- Combine 4 cups of flour and 2 tsp. baking powder. Mix into coffee mixture.
- Mix together baking soda and hot water, stirring until it foams. Add to cake mix.
- Add 2 tsp. vanilla, mixing together well.
- Pour into a greased and floured 13x9x2 inch pan. Bake at 350 F. until done (start checking at 40 min., but it could take an hour. Time is app.)
I pray you can use this Scripture cake recipe and project to add spice to your families’ recipes and spirits.
All this talk about food reminded me of another great book I read recently. Recipes for a Sweet Child: Creative, Bible-Based Activities to Help Your Family Thrive by Katie Trent is a family devotional that combines family faith-building, character-building, and fun recipes you can cook together as a family. I’ve never seen a book quite like this, and I think you’re going to love it!
Imagine a resource that combines a devotional about resistance to schoolwork with a recipe for a sweet treat (Tug-of-War Apple Pull-Apart Bread, anyone?). Or a conversation about forgiveness with Frozen Forgiveness Fruit Crumble (gluten-free!). Recipes for a Sweet Child: Creative, Bible-Based Activities to Help Your Family Thrive helps you navigate your child’s big emotions, difficult behaviors, and relational struggles in a Biblical way. I hope you’ll check it out!
A version of this post first appeared on Christian Children’s Authors blog.
Kelly Warner says
What a great way to homeschool, Bonnie! 🙂
WriteBonnieRose says
Thank you so much!
Amy Ezell says
Thank you for the recipe! Both of Katie Trent’s devotionals are excellent and include yummy recipes. We have both books– so good!
WriteBonnieRose says
Yes, I love her books! Thank you!