During the various Gold Rush eras of the 1800s miners, prospectors and pioneers relied on calorie-dense, portable foods that could endure months without spoiling. One of the more popular ones known as “Cracklin’ Cake,” was a rustic, hearty blend of cornmeal, pork cracklings, and other simple ingredients that could last through long journeys and harsh weather conditions.
While forgotten for the better part of a century, the concept of the cracklin’ cake is making a comeback in the prepper and survivalist communities. Today, it’s often reimagined with preservation techniques and safe storage practices, that make it possible for these cakes to last up to 5 years.
What Are Gold Rush Cracklin’ Cakes?
Gold Rush Cracklin’ Cakes are essentially a cross between cornbread and a fried cake, that’s been enriched with pork cracklings.
These crispy bits of rendered pork fat, left over after making lard, bring flavor, essential fats, and calories. For miners and settlers, cracklings provided concentrated energy during times when fresh meat was scarce.
These cakes were durable enough to withstand weeks of travel in saddlebags or packs. They were also calorically dense, packed with fats, protein, and carbs to fuel long workdays.
It was also important that they were easy to make, at times when miners and pioneers needed to spend their time focused on work rather than cooking. The fact that basic Gold Rush cracklin’ cakes were made from staple pantry items like cornmeal, salt, and lard, also made them nicely accessible throughout the frontier.
Today, we can take them up a notch and boost their long-term shelf life by applying modern preservation methods. With the thoughtful use of dehydration and vacuum sealing, you could potentially create Gold Rush crackling cakes that could last up to 5 years.
Why Cracklin’ Cakes Are Important for Preppers
The best survival foods are about more than just about calories. Things like cracklin’ cakes are also about balance and versatility. A lot of basic survival staples like rice and bean and powdered eggs can get really boring. The food fatigue that bland survival foods bring about can affect morale and tempt you toward foods that don’t have the calories or nutrients you need to thrive.
👉 The Mushroom That Got Me Out Of The Wheelchair
Whereas Gold Rush cracklin’ cakes offer some variety and the versatility you need to beat back food fatigue. While still being shelf-stable enough to endure the test of time in desperate times. In a certain sense, Cracklin’ Cakes aren’t just food, they’re fuel and comfort combined with practicality.
How to Make Gold Rush Cracklin’ Cakes
When preparing any hearty survival-style dish, the key is in understanding the flexibility of your ingredients. Pantry staples can vary widely in quality and availability, so it’s worth taking a moment to consider substitutions or adjustments.
For instance, if a particular type of fat or flour isn’t on hand, think about how its texture or flavor might affect the final dish.
As highlighted in Efficient Survival Strategies from Real People Who Made It Through the Great Depression, many people who lived through extreme scarcity learned to improvise with what they had, turning limited supplies into satisfying and sustaining meals.
What we can learn from this book is how small tweaks, like toasting nuts for extra depth or lightly seasoning your base ingredients, can elevate even the simplest survival meal into something memorable.
Cracklin’ Cakes Recipe
The following is a basic recipe for Gold Rush cracklin’ cakes, using ingredients that can be found in most survivalists’ pantries.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cornmeal (yellow or white)
- 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour (optional, improves texture)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder
- 1 cup of pork cracklings, finely chopped
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon powdered milk
- 2 tablespoons lard or bacon grease (or substitute shortening)
Directions:
- Prepare the Cracklings. Render pork fat until crisp bits (cracklings) remain then drain and chop finely. Allow to cool before mixing.
- Mix the Dry Ingredients. Combine cornmeal, flour, salt, milk powder, and baking powder in a bowl. Stir to thoroughly combine
- Add Wet Ingredients. Stir in water and lard until the batter becomes thick
- Add Cracklings. Lightly grease a spoon and fold in the cracklings just enough that you can see specks of them throughout the thick batter.
- Preheat the Pan. Heat a cast-iron skillet or griddle over medium heat. Make sure the pan is good and hot.
- Cook the Cakes. Drop big spoonfuls of thick batter and flatten into small cakes. Cook until golden brown on both sides.
- Allow Cakes to Cool. When golden brown on both sides, remove the cakes from the pan and allow them to cool completely on a wire rack.
- Dehydrate for Storage. Place cooled cakes in a food dehydrator (or oven set to the lowest temperature) until all moisture is removed. They should be completely dry to the touch, with no soft spots.
Nutritional Info Per 100 g
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Calories: 283 kcal
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Carbohydrates: 35.5 g
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Protein: 6.6 g
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Fat: 13 g
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Fiber: 3.8 g
How to Safe Storage for Long Shelf Life
The original Gold Rush cakes were usually good for a few weeks. However, with modern-day food dehydration technology, vacuum sealing and cold storage, you might be able to push that timeline to five years using the following techniques
Dehydrate Thoroughly
Leave the Gold Rush cracklin’ cakes in a dehydrator or low-heat oven until they are thoroughly dried. The cakes should “Snap” or “Crack” and not “Bend” when fully dried.
Vacuum Seal
Use a modern-day vacuum sealer to preserve individual cakes. In a pinch, you could place the fully dried cakes in Mylar bags. In this case, be sure to add oxygen absorbers to extend freshness.
Store in a Cool, Dark Place
Keep your stash of Gold Rush crackin’ cakes in a root cellar, basement, or climate-controlled pantry. For added protection against mice, it helps to keep them in a sealed, food-grade bucket. It’s also very important to remember to rotate stocks regularly.
Looking to stock your pantry with more comfort recipes and practical survival tips? The Amish Ways is a mus-have for anyone interested in self-sufficiency and long-term preparedness.
This guide offers a wealth of guidance on gardening, food preservation, and building a sustainable stockpile, as well as tips on raising livestock, making homemade staples, and managing resources wisely. It even shares insights into using money the Amish way – practical, mindful approaches that can help stretch your supplies and reduce waste.
Whether you’re planning for emergencies or simply want to embrace a more resourceful lifestyle, this book is packed with advice to keep your kitchen and your stockpile well-prepared.
How to Use Cracklin’ Cakes
Basic Gold Rush cracklin’ cakes can be used as a standalone snack or as a starchy accompaniment to many other dishes. My survivalist uncle liked to bring them on fall hunting trips and dip them in rabbit stew.
Dehydrated cracklin’ cakes can be a little hard. His trick for this was to put them on an expanded metal mesh a few inches over the stew pot. The steam rising up would gradually rehydrate and soften the cracklin’ cakes.
Variations to Keep Cracklin’ Cakes Interesting
While traditional Gold Rush Cracklin’ Cakes are simple by design, they also lend themselves to some culinary creativity. The following are a few tweaks or substitutions you can use to keep your survival pantry fresh and your morale high. Just bear in mind that some of the following ingredient substitutions might affect the long-term shelf life of the cracklin’ cakes.
Jalapeño Cracklin’ Cakes
Finely dice dehydrated jalapeños (or jalapeño powder) and fold them into the batter with the cracklins. This adds a spicy kick and helps mask the monotony of repetitive meals.
Onion & Garlic Cracklin’ Cakes
This one is my favourite – stir in dehydrated onion flakes or garlic powder. It adds a savory depth of flavor that pairs perfectly with soups and stews or cheese dips made from yellow-brick cheese.
Herb Cracklin’ Cakes
You could also add dried herbs like rosemary, thyme, or sage to the batter. These bring a “homestyle” flavor that breaks up survival food fatigue.
In times of need, comfort food should never be missing from our tables. Even with minimal ingredients, you can still prepare dishes that bring back memories of better times, like bean and rice soup, dandelion bread, hamburger in a bag with rich gravy, or preserved eggs. These old-school recipes are featured in the best-selling guide No Grid Survival.
But mind you, this isn’t just a recipe book. It’s a comprehensive guide packed with the knowledge you need for DIY projects and self-sufficiency in an off-grid home.
For preppers, THIS BOOK is a dream come true, covering everything you need to live well now and thrive in a survival scenario.
Smoky Paprika Cracklin’ Cakes
For a more intense flavour, dust the batter with smoked paprika or chili powder for a subtle heat and smoky aftertaste. It’s especially good with beans or chili. A dash of Old Bay also makes it great for shore lunch seafood stews.
Venison or Wild Game Cracklin’ Cakes
Instead of pork cracklins, use rendered fat and crispy bits from venison, elk, or even duck breast. This makes use of local resources and provides different flavor profiles while still being shelf-stable. It’s a great skill to have in your arsenal for times when you have to source your own protein.
Final Thoughts
Gold Rush Cracklin’ Cakes may have been born out of necessity during the rugged days of the 1800s, but their appeal goes far beyond history. Packed with cornmeal and savory pork cracklings, they were portable, calorie-dense, and could stay edible for days. They are perfect for miners, travelers, and anyone facing the uncertainty of frontier life. Today, they remain a reminder that simple, practical foods can sustain you in tough conditions while still providing a sense of comfort and familiarity.
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