DessertBritish

Rock Cakes

Name: Rock Cakes
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 225g Self-raising Flour; 75g Caster Sugar; 1 tsp Baking Powder; 125g Butter; 150g Dried Fruit; 1 Eggs; 1 tbs Milk; 2 tsp Vanilla Extract

Rock Cakes is a classic British dessert that holds a distinguished place in traditional cooking. Celebrated for its wholesome ingredients and time-honored preparation, this dish brings authentic regional character to the home kitchen.

Carefully baked or prepared featuring Self-raising Flour, Caster Sugar, Baking Powder, Butter, Dried Fruit, Eggs, Milk and Vanilla Extract, the components balance delicate sweetness and satisfying texture.

Enjoy warm or chilled alongside fresh vanilla custard, whipped cream, or a freshly brewed cup of coffee or tea for a comforting finish to your meal.

If you enjoy authentic British cooking, be sure to also explore our recipe for Apple & Blackberry Crumble.

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Ingredients

Self-raising Flour225g
Caster Sugar75g
Baking Powder1 tsp
Butter125g
Dried Fruit150g
Eggs1
Milk1 tbs
Vanilla Extract2 tsp

Step-by-Step Instructions

9 steps

Interactive Cook Mode: Click any step or circle to check it off as you cook.

Step 1🔥 Preheat

Preheat oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4 and line a baking tray with baking parchment.

Step 2🥄 Mix

Mix the flour, sugar and baking powder in a bowl and rub in the cubed butter until the mixture looks like breadcrumbs, then mix in the dried fruit.

Step 3🥄 Mix

In a clean bowl, beat the egg and milk together with the vanilla extract.

Step 4🥄 Mix

Add the egg mixture to the dry ingredients and stir with a spoon until the mixture just comes together as a thick, lumpy dough.

Step 5

Add a teaspoon more milk if you really need it to make the mixture stick together.

Step 6

Place golfball-sized spoons of the mixture onto the prepared baking tray.

Step 7

Leave space between them as they will flatten and spread out to double their size during baking.

Step 8🥧 Bake⏱️ 15-20 minutes

Bake for 15-20 minutes, until golden-brown.

Step 9

Remove from the oven, allow to cool for a couple of minutes then turn them out onto a wire rack to cool.

👨‍🍳 Chef's Culinary Notes

Cultural Heritage

Rock Cakes reflects the timeless heritage of traditional British home cooking, satisfying, traditional, and highlighting slow-simmered savory gravies. Prepared for generations for family gatherings and celebrations, it represents the heart of regional culinary identity.

Dietary Substitutions

If using instant dry yeast instead of active dry yeast, you can mix it directly into the dry ingredients without proofing first, reducing wait time by 15 minutes.

Chef Technique Tips

Always ensure liquids used to activate the yeast are comfortably lukewarm (around 38°C–42°C / 100°F–108°F); liquid that is too hot will kill the yeast, while cold liquid delays proofing. Keep the dough in a warm, draft-free spot to rise.

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