Welsh Cakes – An old family recipe, traditionally served warm, simply with a little butter on the tops!
I grew up eating Welsh Cakes.
My Welsh grandmother would often make them using her very heavy cast iron griddle pan, and I would eat them as fast as she could make them, spreading some lovely Welsh butter on the top and simply enjoying them.
What Are Welsh Cakes
The cakes are also known as bakestones within Wales because they are traditionally cooked on a bakestone , a cast iron griddle about 1.5 cm or more thick which is placed on the fire or cooker; on rare occasions, people may refer to them as griddle scones.
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If any of you celebrate St David’s Day and are looking for some traditional Welsh recipes, these Welsh Cakes are perfect to make!
I’ve managed to get the recipe for these via my cousin, who had the recipe from her mother, who in turn had it passed down from my ‘Mam’, or our Welsh Grandmother. So now, here it is! The famous and much loved recipe for Welsh Cakes! Please enjoy them as much as all our family have done through the generations.
Recipe from ‘Mam’, Grandmother to many of our Lovefoodies recipes!
⏲️ Prep Time
10 minutes
⏲️ Cook time
3 minutes
? Serving size
15 Approx
? Equipment
You’ll need a griddle pan, cast iron skillet or a frying pan to use on the stove top.
? Ingredients
1 3/4 cups or 225 g self raising flour
pinch of salt
1/2 cup or 100 g margarine
1/4 cup or 50 g sugar
1/4 cup or 50 g currants / raisins
1 egg
2 Tablespoons milk to mix.
? Top tip
** If you choose to use baking powder instead of Self Raising Flour, be careful not to add too much in case you taste the baking powder. I don’t want you to spoil the delicious flavour of the Welsh Cakes!
? Instructions
1. Mix flour and salt, rub in margarine, stir in sugar and currants.
2. Mix to a fairly stiff dough with the egg and milk.
3. Roll out about 5 mm (¼ inch) in thickness and cut into rounds, (use a 6.5 cm or 2 1/2 inch cookie cutter) Gather up the trimmings and re-roll to make more Welsh cakes.
4. Cook on a medium-hot greased griddle pan for about 3 minutes on each side. Place the hot Welsh cakes on some sugar, both sides then serve buttered, hot or cold.
? Top tip
Make sure your griddle/skillet/fry pan is well greased, and to tell if it has reached the correct temperature, sprinkle some water on it and if the water jumps about in balls, evaporating, then it’s hot enough!
We’d love to hear from you and what you thought of our Welsch Cakes recipe. Did you make any changes or add some other goodies? Let us know in the comments below. Thanks for reading and happy cooking!
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Welsh Cakes; An old family recipe, traditionally served warm, simply with a little butter on the tops!
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Welsh Cakes
Welsh Cakes - An old family recipe, traditionally served warm, simply with a little butter on the tops!
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups or 225 g self raising flour
- pinch of salt
- 1/2 cup or 100 g margarine
- 1/4 cup or 50 g sugar
- 1/4 cup or 50 g currants / raisins
- 1 egg
- 2 Tablespoons milk to mix.
Instructions
- Mix flour and salt, rub in margarine, stir in sugar and currants.
- Mix to a fairly stiff dough with the egg and milk.
- Roll out about 5 mm (¼ inch) in thickness and cut into rounds, (use a 6.5 cm or 2 1/2 inch cookie cutter) Gather up the trimmings and re roll to make more Welsh cakes.
- Cook on a medium hot greased griddle pan for about 3 minutes on each side. Place the hot Welsh cakes on some sugar, both sides then serve buttered, hot or cold.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
15Serving Size:
15 ServingsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 138Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 194mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 1gSugar: 7gProtein: 2g
Halima
Hi, if I make these in the oven, which temperature and for how long?
Thank you – as I haven’t used a gridle pan
Lovefoodies
Hi Halima, I wouldn’t suggest making these in the oven because I worry they will dry out. It you don’t have a griddle pan, use a frying pan (no oil) and that should be fine.
Halima
Thank you
Angie
I just asked Siri “how do you eat a Welsh cake?” because….don’t gasp, bakers!….I have discovered these for the first time in a grocery store, today. (I’m from the USA but living in the UK.) There were no suggestions whether to heat them, for example. This site looked the most promising, and it was! Your posted comments have taught me about this cherished family treat, and that they are best enjoyed just after cooking! And now I have the recipe 😉 Thank you all!
Lovefoodies
Hi Angie, So glad Siri helped you find us! Just a word of warning, if you’ve seen these Welsh cakes in the supermarket, I can tell you now they are sooooo dry! Obviously try them if you wish, but don’t let them put you off making them yourself with our recipe. You will definitely notice the difference. I’ve tried them all, from Tesco, Asda, M&S etc and still, dry! So please do make your own, serve warm as they come off the stove and add a spread of butter. You can also add jam if you wish, but butter is usually enough for you to enjoy! Thanks for writing in!
Alexis
Are the currants/raisins necessary? I don’t like raisins.
Lovefoodies
Hi Alexis, you can leave them out altogether or swap with something like chopped dried cranberries. The currents/raisins are characteristic of a Welsh cake but you can make them to suit!