Rock cakes


These are a firm favourite in our family, a recipe that I come back to over and over. They are quick to make, use relatively few ingredients and are pretty healthy. They could be made healthier with wholemeal flour and a sugar substitute, but I'm happy to serve these to my kids as they are, knowing that they are fresh, home baked with no additives or preservatives :)



Our kids love to eat them warm from the oven, tops sliced off and spread with butter that melts in. They also love to top them with jam and cream (especially if the jam is home made!)



Here is the recipe for you to try, the kids like to help make them too.

Makes about 9 large rock cakes.

2 cups SR flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon mixed spice (or you can use your favourite spices e.g. a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove)
90grams butter
1/3 cup sugar of substitute
1/2 cup dried fruit (I used a mix of raisins, sultanas and currants)
1 egg
Milk to mix to a thick batter (around 1/2 cup?)
Raw sugar to top (optional)

Preheat oven to 190C and prepare a muffin tin with muffin patty pans. It helps to grease the top of the tray very lightly to prevent sticking. 
Sift flour, salt and spices into a large bowl. Add the chopped butter and rub into the flour until it resembles breadcrumbs. This step can be done in a food processor if you're feeling lazy (but then you have to wash the food processor bowl, so not worth the trouble to me!) Stir in the sugar and dried fruits. 
Add the egg and some of your milk and start mixing. You're going for a very thick, sticky batter, not dry at all. 
When thoroughly mixed, spoon the batter into the patty pans, filling about 3/4 of the way. This will give you a large cake that doesn't spill over the edge of the tin too much.
Sprinkle the tops of the batter with raw sugar (this is optional). 
Bake for around 18 minutes or until the tops are golden.
Turn out of tin onto a baking tray and watch them disappear!


7 comments:

Nanna Chel said...

These look yummy, Kelly. I could probably leave the dried fruit out and replace the sugar with Dextrose to make it a 'no sugar' recipe. I must try it out. Thanks heaps.

Sue Elvis said...

Kelly,

I don't know what I liked best: the thought of eating these delicious rock cakes or your stunning photos. The photos were a feast for my eyes! The red and white tablecloth is a perfect complement to the plate and cakes. You could put together your own recipe book, complete with photos!

Kelly Casanova said...

Yes, I was thinking that dextrose could be a good alternative Nanna Chel. Would you let me know how they turn out if you try it?

Kelly Casanova said...

Thanks for your encouraging comment Sue! The "tablecloth" is actually just a piece of fabric from my stash, it's a good way to have different backgrounds for photography :)

Nanna Chel said...

Sure will, Kelly.

Sophie said...

Those cakes look delicious. I can't wait to try the recipe out. I love dried fruit in food.

Kelly Casanova said...

Sophie, your family uses Stevia, right? I wonder if that would work for this recipe, worth a try perhaps :)

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