Recipe for Soda Cake.
In 1824 "The Virginia Housewife" by Mary Randolph was published. It contained a recipe for Soda Cake.
Dissolve half a pound of sugar in a pint of milk; add a teaspoon of soda, pour it on two pounds of flour--melt half a pound of butter. Knead all together until light. Pour it in shallow molds and bake it quickly in a quick oven."
I have not tried the recipe above.
I did bake this one last night.