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

What is the difference between scones and Welsh cakes? ›

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.

Do you eat Welsh cakes hot or cold? ›

Welsh cakes are served hot or cold, sometimes dusted with caster sugar.

Why are my Welsh cakes hard? ›

Why did my Welsh cakes turn out hard, dry or crumbly? If your Welsh Cakes turned out hard, dry or crumbly, your mixture was probably not wet enough. Next time, add a little bit of milk so the mix is softer.

What is the American version of a scone? ›

If you go into an American bakery and ask for a “scone”, you'll get a sweet, fluffy, usually triangular bread product, often with some form of berry baked in. If you go into an American restaurant and order a “biscuit”, you will get a fluffy, savory bread product that you might categorize as a “scone”.

What is another name for Welsh Cakes? ›

They have gone by a few different names since their inception including their Welsh language names “cage bach” or "picau ar y maen" but also they are known as "Griddle Cakes", "Welsh Tea Cakes" and "Welsh Miner Cakes".

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 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.

What does cake mean in Welsh? ›

cake1. in Welsh is: cacen noun feminine, teisen noun feminine.

Why do people eat Welsh cakes? ›

Once upon a time, Wales was known as the largest producer of coal. The men would go off to the coal mines while the lady of the household would prepare Welsh cakes. These would be served with afternoon tea. Children were also given these delightful griddle-cooked cakes to take along with their lunches for school.

What makes a cake more soft? ›

Making a moist cake starts with the cake mix. If a recipe calls for all-purpose flour, opt for cake flour instead to create a more moist, tender crumb. Additions like sour cream, buttermilk, or applesauce can also infuse moisture and prevent a dry cake.

Can you freeze homemade Welsh cakes? ›

Allow the Welsh cakes to cool on a wire rack then open freeze them on a tray, before transferring to a freezer container or bag. This will allow you to remove just one or two at a time. Freeze for up to 4 months. Allow to defrost at room temperature for about an hour.

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.

What is the national dessert of Wales? ›

Bara brith: our traditional Welsh recipe

Bara Brith is a rich fruit loaf made with tea. Here's our recipe for making this favourite Welsh tea-time treat.

Are drop scones the same as Welsh cakes? ›

According to Doug Windsor, the former national chef of Wales, the two cakes are made in a different way. He explained: "A Welsh cake is made from a dough, while a drop scone is made from a batter and is more of a pancake," he said.

What do Brits call American scones? ›

A Biscuit (U.S.) Is a Scone (U.K.)

Both baked goodies use flour, fat, liquid and a leavening agent. The main differences are that scones tend to have less butter (because you'll add butter to it when you eating it — or else, clotted cream or jam) while American biscuits tend to have more butter and light layers.

What is the difference between a British scone and a US scone? ›

American scones use much more butter than British scones, and they usually have quite a bit more sugar. The extra butter is what makes them so much denser. This is not really a good or bad thing, as British scones pile on plenty of sugar (in the form of preserves/jam) and butter or clotted cream as toppings.

Why are scones popular in the UK? ›

Around 1840, scones became an essential part of the fashionable ritual of afternoon tea in England. This was popularised by Anna, the duch*ess of Bedford, who was a close friend of Queen Victoria. One afternoon she requested some 'light food', which included tea, biscuits and scones.

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!

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