This recipe came from a friend in Alaska many years ago, and has been slightly modified. It will last for years after canned.
2/3 cups shortening
2-2/3 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 cups pumpkin, fresh pureed or canned
2/3 cups water
3-1/3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cloves, ground
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup walnuts, chopped or crushed
8 wide mouth jars w/lids and rings for sealing, 8 pints, or 4 18-ounce jars
8 wax paper circles cut to fit, inside jars
Cream shortening and sugar together, adding sugar slowly. Beat in eggs, pumpkin and water. Set aside.
Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, ground cloves, allspice, cinnamon and baking soda. Add to pumpkin mixture and stir well. Stir in nuts.
Pour batter into greased, straight-sided, wide mouthed 20-ounce canning jars, filling only half full. Place jars in a pan of water. Bake upright in preheated 325 degree oven for about 45 minutes. (Cake will rise and pull away from sides of jar.)
When done, remove one jar at a time from oven. If cake rises above the top of the jar, slice off the excess. While still hot, place wax paper circle on the top end of the cake. Wipe sealing edge of jar. Place lid on jar and close tightly with ring. Turn jar upside down. (Cake will loosen at this time.) Repeat with other jars. Leave jars upside down until sealed. (Jar is sealed if lid remains flat when pressed in
center.)
To serve: Open jar, slide a knife around inside of the jar if necessary to loosen the cake, and remove the cake from the jar. Warm cake in the oven if desired, or slice and toast. Slice and serve with whipped cream or butter.
Because the jar is sealed, the cake keeps indefinitely. It can be made ahead of the holidays and will last for many months.