From 1860:
Stir a cup and a half of sugar and half a cup of butter together, with three well beaten eggs. Sift a teaspoonful of cream of tartar, and half a teaspoonful of soda with three small cups of flour; this with half a cup of milk must be mixed with the above, and baked in a moderately quick oven. By adding raisins and currants, a half pound of each, a very good fruit cake may be made.