How to Make Simple Traditional Welshcakes You’ll Love (2024)

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Today: How to make Welsh Cakes. My favourite recipe for fabulous Welshcakes. They’re traditional, super simple to make and absolutely delicious.

How to Make Simple Traditional Welshcakes You’ll Love (1)Until I moved to Cardiff 10 years ago I’d never had a welshcake. Now I adore them! If you haven’t tried one I’d describe them as a cross between a scone and a biscuit but you cook them in a dry pan (or on a ‘stone‘ if you’re very traditional). This gives them that lovely brown top and bottom but with a pale, moist middle. We’re back in England now and although you can pick them up in some supermarkets I just don’t think they can quite measure up to a homemade batch. I’ve taken to making them myself since finding a traditional Welshcakes recipe in The Great British Book of BakingHow to Make Simple Traditional Welshcakes You’ll Love (2)a couple of years ago. I’ve adapted it slightly and it’s very straight forward and easy for the kids to get involved which is always a bonus.

Traditional Welshcakes Recipe

  • 225g self-raising flour
  • a pinch of salt
  • 100g butter (chilled and diced)
  • 75g caster sugar (plus some for dusting at the end)
  • 50g dried fruit (I use sultanas)
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 3tbs milk

How to make welsh cakes

They keep for a few days but they a lovely while they are still warm. I don’t know why but these seem particularly appropriate at Easter. If you like to mess with tradition you can add a bit of hot cross bun type spice by adding 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp mixed spice and 1/4 tsp nutmeg and including a bit of candied peel in your dried fruit.

If you enjoy traditional baking check out Mummy Alarm’s Traditional Tarte Tatin recipe, yum!

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Time needed:25 minutes.

How to make Welsh Cakes

  1. Rub the butter into the flour and salt until it looks like crumbs then stir in the sugar and the fruit.
  2. Mix together the egg yolk and the milk. Then add it to the flour mixture, bringing it together into a dough. It shouldn’t be sticky.
  3. You may need to add a little more milk or flour to get it to the right consistency for rolling (depending mainly on the temperature of your kitchen and your hands).
  4. Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about 1cm think. Cut out the cakes with a round cutter. I get about 18.
  5. Heat your pan (or stone/griddle) to a medium temperature. You shouldn’t need to grease it as long as it is relatively ‘non-stick’.
  6. Cook the cakes in batches until they are brown on the outside and slightly puffed up. It takes around 2 minutes per side. Don’t try and flip them over too soon as they are quite ‘floppy’ at that stage.
  7. Remove to a plate and let them cool until you can just pick them up. Then dust with caster sugar or dip both sides into a plate of sugar to lightly coat them.

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Comments

  1. How to Make Simple Traditional Welshcakes You’ll Love (6)Michelle says

    These are delicious! I make Welsh Cakes at least monthly as my daughters are slightly addicted to them. Much more filling than a biscuit 🙂

    Reply

  2. How to Make Simple Traditional Welshcakes You’ll Love (7)Charlotte says

    These look lovely! I love scones and I love biscuits so I will definitely be trying these! x

    Reply

  3. How to Make Simple Traditional Welshcakes You’ll Love (9)Su Tyler says

    Just made some of these. Not made welshcakes for ages. I’ve never used egg in mine – just milk but did try this time and they taste delicious.
    I so miss my nan’s bakestone though..hers were the best – done on a big thick bakestone that took two people to lift onto the cooker and took 15 mins to warm up!!

    Reply

  4. How to Make Simple Traditional Welshcakes You’ll Love (11)claire says

    About to make these. I grew up eating my great Nan’s Welsh cakes. She was from Bridgend and used a bakestone. They were always delicious and quite light and fluffy. I am on the hunt for the right recipe, this is my sixth attempt to get the taste of nan’s! A storage tip, Nan always wrapped them in a tea towel to cool and stored them in a tin with a slice of bread. Thanks for the recipe 🙂

    Reply

  5. How to Make Simple Traditional Welshcakes You’ll Love (12)Margaret says

    YUMMY

    My son-in-law has Welsh parents – living in QLD. I live in Sydney and have just made these for the first time – they are delicious and my son-in-law thinks I am the best cook in the world. I have tried them with different fruit – sultanas, currents and raisins – they’d were all great. Thankyou.

    Reply

  6. How to Make Simple Traditional Welshcakes You’ll Love (13)Anonymous says

    Mine fell apart while cooking,don’t know what happened.

    Reply

  7. How to Make Simple Traditional Welshcakes You’ll Love (14)Nigel says

    Mine turned out rather “dry” think I’ll use more butter or shortening next time

    Reply

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How to Make Simple Traditional Welshcakes You’ll Love (2024)

FAQs

What is the most popular dessert in Wales? ›

Welsh cakes

Perhaps the best-loved of all Welsh treats, these small, circular cakes are dusted in sugar and provide the perfect accompaniment to a hot cup of tea. Traditionally cooked on a bakestone, Welsh cakes can also contain sultanas and chocolate chips for a sweeter twist on the original recipe.

Why do my Welsh cakes go hard? ›

After you have flipped them, you want to look for that gooey line in the middle of each Welsh cake. If you don't have this and cook them for too long on either side, they're going to be rock hard the next day.

How are you meant to eat Welsh cakes? ›

Welsh cakes are served hot or cold, sometimes dusted with caster sugar. Unlike scones, they are not usually eaten with an accompaniment, though they are sometimes sold ready split and spread with jam, and they are sometimes buttered.

What is the national dish of the Welsh? ›

Cawl, pronounced "cowl", can be regarded as Wales' national dish. Dating back to the 11th century, originally it was a simple broth of meat (most likely lamb) and vegetables, it could be cooked slowly over the course of the day whilst the family was out working the fields.

What cake is Wales famous for? ›

Picau ar y maen — also known as Welsh cakes, Welsh miner cakes, pice bach, cacennau cri, and teisennau gradell — are thick-ish, round tea cakes traditionally made on a baking stone or griddle, studded with dried fruit, possibly sprinkled in caster sugar, served warm or cold, butter and jam optional.

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 are Welsh cakes called in England? ›

They were usually called Pica ar y Maen in south Carmarthenshire, West Glamorgan and South Glamorgan. In English, they would be called 'bakestone cakes' or simply 'bakestones'.

What's the difference between a scone and a Welsh cake? ›

Scones are usually larger and baked, and originate from Scotland. Welsh cakes are round, small, flat, and cookie/biscuit-like, and they are cooked on a flat griddle. Welsh cakes are usually made with currants. Scones might or might not contain currants.

What do you eat with Welsh cakes? ›

Everyone likes to eat their welsh cakes differently and you should know that if you are talking to us there is no wrong or right way. Enjoy them with sugar, butter, plain, jam, cream, or even chocolate spread and marshmallow – the point of a welsh cake is that is makes you feel warm and cosy for a little minute.

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!

Why are my Welsh cakes burning? ›

Getting the temperature of your griddle or bakestone correct is the key to this Welsh cake recipe. If it's too hot the cakes will burn before they are cooked through. Too low and the texture will be dry.

What is another name for Welsh cakes? ›

Welsh Cakes or Pice ar y maen are a Welsh teatime treat. The recipe has been passed down through generations and is still as popular as ever. In Wales welsh cakes are also known as griddle cakes or bakestones because they are traditionally cooked on a bakestone (Welsh: maen, lit. 'stone' or Welsh: planc, lit.

How do you eat shop bought Welsh cakes? ›

While they can be eaten cold, for the perfect experience try and get Welsh cakes warm off the griddle (accompanied by a mug of hot tea, obviously). Some slice them and add jam, while modern variations even add chocolate, cranberries, and other ingredients.

What do Welsh cakes taste like? ›

These delicious Welsh cakes also know as griddle scones or bakestones are light and buttery on the inside and crisp on the outside. A delightful teatime treat or snack.

What sweets is Wales famous for? ›

Wales is known for a number of tasty sweet treats, these include Welsh cakes, crempog and bara birth. Welsh cakes are super tasty and loved by many in and around Wales.

What is the most eaten food in Wales? ›

Staple fruits of the land include oats, barley, wheat and vegetables, including the famous Welsh leek – an enduring symbol of Wales and found in traditional dishes, such as Glamorgan sausage and the hearty broth known simply as cawl. Nothing showcases the Welsh tradition of simple wholesome fare more than cawl.

What is Wales Favourite food? ›

Cawl. This staple of Welsh cooking is almost the national dish of Wales! A hearty stew or broth, cawl is typical of food being wholesome and traditionally based on what was available from the land.

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