Welsh Cakes Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Cast Iron

by: Donna

November11,2014

4

4 Ratings

  • Makes about 18 small cakes

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Author Notes

My mother used to make these for my sister and I when we were little girls. They are like scones but cooked in a frying pan or griddle. I use a cast iron pan to make mine; do a test cake first to determine the level of heat required to bake your little cakes. They are prefect served warm, with butter or jam, straight from the frying pan. —Donna

Test Kitchen Notes

In Wales they’re Welsh Cakes, in other parts of the UK they’re Singin’ Hinnies or griddle scones -- but all of them are the humble, slightly less-levened precursor to the scone. Whether eaten with afternoon tea, as a late supper, round a fire while camping, or with butter and jam for breakfast, this griddle scone variant is adaptable, tasty and oh-so-good. Stove-top cooked on a griddle or skillet instead of oven-baked, it’s a great option for the ovenless crowd and uses basic ingredients that you can find in most kitchens. —Ksb

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 2 cupsall-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cupgranulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoonsbaking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoonsalt
  • 1/4 teaspoonground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoonfreshly ground nutmeg
  • 6 tablespoonscold, unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 2 tablespoonscold lard, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1/3 cupcurrants
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1/4 cupcold, whole milk
Directions
  1. Combine all the dry ingredients in a large bowl and whisk to blend. Blend the butter and lard into the flour mixture with a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the currants Add the beaten egg and enough milk to make a soft dough.
  2. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead briefly and gently. Roll the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness and cut into 2 1/2-inch rounds with a cookie or biscuit cutter.
  3. Heat an electric griddle or frying pan to 350° F (or a heavy cast iron skillet over medium-low heat). Butter the surface lightly and cook the Welsh cakes for about 3 minutes per side, or until they are golden brown. They should be soft in the middle but not doughy. Remove to a wire rack and sprinkle with granulated or confectioners' sugar. Serve warm. Once they are cool, the cakes can be wrapped and stored at room temperature for several days, or frozen.

Tags:

  • Cake
  • Bread
  • Welsh
  • Currant
  • Milk/Cream
  • Cast Iron
  • Breakfast
  • Snack
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18 Reviews

Ontariobnd February 28, 2017

I made these for a New Year's day treat with that first cup of coffee - so easy to throw together and really really tasty. My Gram and mom loved them!!

Donna March 1, 2017

Thank you so much for your kind comment Carey. I am very pleased that you enjoyed the Welsh cakes. All the best,
-Donna

Ksb February 22, 2015

While testing the recipe I put uncooked and cooked scones in the freezer to see how they would keep. While never as good as freshly made, both frozen versions are pretty tasty and can be an option if like me you don't to eat the whole batch when making the recipe.

Donna February 23, 2015

That sounds like a terrific idea. I am going to try that with the next batch of Welsh Cakes. Thanks Ksb :)

Alicefive February 9, 2015

Brought back a taste of my childhood!

Donna February 9, 2015

Thank you Deanna, so pleased you enjoyed the Welsh Cakes.

Julia January 27, 2015

I grew up with these too! - Raisin Griddle Cakes ... quick and easy, - satisfying!!

Donna January 27, 2015

Thank you for your kind comment Julia; they are indeed quick, easy, and still a favorite at our house.

Kaede S. December 21, 2014

My husband's grandmother and her family immigrated to the United States from Wales when she was a little girl. She made these for him when he was little. I just made a batch on my Cuisinart indoor griddle. They are lovely and light and very tasty with a spoonful of cranberry sauce!

Donna December 22, 2014

Thank you for your kind comment Kaede. I am so pleased that you enjoyed the Welsh Cakes!

Owen O. December 11, 2014

My mom only makes these on St. David's Day ( March 1st). Such a treat.

Donna December 11, 2014

That's a lovely tradition Owen. Thank you for your thoughtful comment :)

Jacqueline O. December 7, 2014

We call these bake stones! No spices though and we use butter not lard. These are very easy to cook in an electric grilled too.

Hannah C. December 8, 2014

Oh good to know! I was just wondering if I could substitute the lard.

Donna December 10, 2014

Yes Hannah, as Jacqueline mentioned, you can use all butter. The small amount of lard just gives the cakes a little flakier texture. I hope you enjoy them :)

Donna December 10, 2014

Thanks Jacqueline! My mother used to make these in an electric frying pan; it's a good way to maintain a constant temperature.

CondimentQueen November 11, 2014

Wow, what a nostalgia moment! My Grandma used to make these for me and I had forgotten how much I like them. Thanks for the recipe.

Donna November 11, 2014

You are so very welcome! I hope they are as good as you remember :)

Welsh Cakes Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

Why are my Welsh cakes so dry? ›

The consistency needs to be bound together, so if too dry add another egg.

What is the difference between Welsh cakes and scones? ›

When you look at this recipe you will see how similar it is to a scone. The only real difference is that less milk is used in the Welsh Cake batter because you want a dough that can be easily rolled and cut into rounds.

What's the best way to eat Welsh cakes? ›

Cakes may be eaten straight from the package however most people prefer them warmed. Warming takes 8-10 seconds for one cake in a 1500W microwave, 10-12 seconds for a whole pack. If heating in an oven, 2-3 mins @ 275 will usually do.

What is another name for Welsh cakes? ›

Welsh cakes (Welsh: picau ar y maen, pice bach, cacennau cri or teisennau gradell), also bakestones or pics, are a traditional sweet bread in Wales. They have been popular since the late 19th century with the addition of fat, sugar and dried fruit to a longer standing recipe for flat-bread baked on a griddle.

What pan is best for Welsh cakes? ›

This Welsh cakes recipe, which follows a classic recipe and is cooked on a griddle, is hard to beat. Whip up a batch for St. David's Day – they are incredibly easy to make and if you don't have a traditional griddle, then a heavy cast iron frying pan can be used instead.

How do you add moisture to fruitcake? ›

Wrap it in several layers of cheesecloth and saturate the cheesecloth with rum or brandy. Place in a sealed container or zip bag. If the cloth starts to dry out, add more booze. Your fruitcake should be ready to eat in 7–10 days but it will keep for many weeks when properly aged in alcohol.

What is a fun fact about Welsh Cakes? ›

Welsh Cakes have been tea-time favourites in most parts of Wales since the second half of the nineteenth century. They were usually cooked on a bakestone and the Welsh names given to these cakes were usually based on the different regional Welsh name for the bakestone.

What is the slang for Welsh Cakes? ›

' Some may casually use 'cêcs' in their conversations, which is the Welsh slang for 'cakes. ' It's indeed one of those words that sparks conversations due to its unique variations!

Do you eat Welsh Cakes hot or cold? ›

Welsh cakes can be eaten hot or cold, though the vast majority of Welsh people will tell you how to eat Welsh cakes is eating them while they're still warm. You can heat them up easily in a pan, toaster oven, standard oven, or even your microwave.

What is the difference between Eccles cake and Welsh cake? ›

What is a Welsh Cake? It's like a cross between a pancake, cookie, or a scone but they are nothing like it. These are somewhat similar in appearance to Eccles Cakes but Welsh Cakes are a bit flatter than an Eccles Cake and unlike an Eccles Cake, Welsh Cakes are not filled.

Do they sell Welsh cakes in England? ›

Tan Y Castell Welsh Cakes | Sainsbury's.

What plank for Welsh cakes? ›

A traditional Welsh Bakestone, also known as a Planc, (12 inch / 30 cm diameter and 10mm thick) is used to bake authentic regional recipes on such as welsh cakes, teisen lap, bara brith, crempog, breads, scones, cakes, pies, pancakes, tarts and biscuits etc.

Why do my Welsh Cakes fall apart? ›

If there are loads of crumbly bits its probably too dry. You want to be aiming for a nice soft dough that stays together but isn't sticky and messy!

What do British people call potato cakes? ›

Potato scallops/Potato cakes

In Australia and England, potato scallops are thin slices of potato that have been battered and deep-fried.

What is cake called in Scotland? ›

kaka, Dan. kage, a cake (O.N. has it in kokukorn (Torp)).]

How do I stop my cake from being dry? ›

Using an air-tight container is the best and easiest way to keep your cake from getting exposed to air. However, if you don't have one of those, you can wrap your cake in cling film, or if it's iced, place a large inverted bowl over it to trap the air.

What causes a cake not to be moist? ›

If you have too much flour in a recipe and not enough fat, like butter or oil, your cake is going to be dry and hard. For best results, I would encourage you to use a scale when baking, but if you don't have a scale, then just make sure you're using measuring cups correctly.

How do you make dry cake moist? ›

The 4 Best Ways to Fix a Dry Cake
  1. Brush the cake with a simple syrup glaze. If your cake comes out too dry, you can still save it with a simple syrup glaze. ...
  2. Soak your cake in milk or cream. ...
  3. Add frosting. ...
  4. Fill your cake with mousse or jam.
May 14, 2023

Why are homemade cakes so dry? ›

If you use a cup rather than a scale there's a good chance you're using too much flour: up to 20% too much, if you use the measuring cup as a scoop then tamp the flour down. Any baked good — especially cake —with too much flour will be dry, hard, crumbly …

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