which spices and how much of them should i add. thanks

with all the spice cakes I have tasted I can say cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice and such are in them, some with all of the spices some with one or the other, but here is a recipe that my mum-mum made for me. Next to the red velvet cake I always got this was #2.

1 cup shortening
2 cups water
2 cups raisins
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
2 cups white sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda

DIRECTIONS:
In a saucepan combine the shortening, water, raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves and sugar. Simmer for around 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand until cooled.
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Grease one 9x13 inch baking pan.
Stir the flour and baking soda into the cooled raisin mixture and mix until combined. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
Bake for 45 minutes.

This is the recipe I normally use for my wedding cakes ect

300g plain flour
2 teaspoons mixed spice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon cocoa powder
225g butter
225g soft brown sugar
2 tablespoons black treacle
6 eggs
800g mixed dried fruit
150g mixed peel
75g chopped walnuts or almonds
75g chopped glace cherries

Line 8 inch round or 7 inch square tin with double thickness of greaseproof paper.Brush paper with oil. Sift flour with spices and cocoa. In a seperate bowl cream butter, sugar and treacle. Beat in eggs 1 at a time, adding a spoonful of sifted ingreediants with each. Stir in fruit, peel, nuts and cherries. Add in any dry mix that is left and fold in. Transfer to tin and smooth top with a knife.Bake in centre of a cool oven 150c for 4 to 4 1/2 hours until a skewer inserted in cake comes out clean. Leave in tin until cool. Wrap in greaseproof paper and alumimium foil until needed. This cake does mature with age and should be made in advance whenever possible.

If you are looking for an easy route...Duncan Hines makes a spice cake mix and it actually tastes pretty good! You could add your own nuts to the mix.
traci

Here is a link to another recipe:
http://cake.allrecipes.com/az/76964.asp

I made a really good Spice Cake last Fall as my entry to the Pumpking Harvest Festival cooking contest where I cam First Place..
I filled it with Pears and Walnuts..the Judges really loved it..It was my Harvest Cake in my "Photos".. Imade it from Spice Cake Mix but I really added so much to it that it came out really good.