Deliciously Easy Rock Cakes Recipe
Rock cakes
Rock cakes
Ingredients
- 200g/7oz self-rising flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons mixed spice blend
- 100g/4oz margarine
- 85g/3oz light muscovado sugar
- 100g/4oz assorted dried fruits
- 1 beaten egg
- 2 tablespoons/30ml milk
- demerara sugar or coarsely crushed sugar cubes, for topping
Instructions
Step 1
To start making your delicious rock cakes, preheat your oven to 180°C (or 160°C if you’re using a fan oven) and set it to gas mark 4. While the oven warms up, grab a baking sheet and line it with baking parchment to prevent sticking — this will make cleanup a breeze later! Now, in a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and 1 teaspoon of your chosen spice. Give it a little stir to mix everything together evenly. Next, take your butter and cut it into small, manageable pieces. Add those buttery bits to the bowl and get ready to rub them into the flour. Use your fingertips to gently work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles fine crumbs. If you prefer, you can also use a food processor for this step, which will save some time and effort. Once you’ve achieved that crumbly texture, you’re ready for the next step!
Step 2
Now it’s time to bring everything together! Start by gently stirring in the muscovado sugar and your choice of dried fruit into the flour mixture, ensuring they're well distributed. Next, crack the egg into the bowl and pour in the milk. Mix everything together until you have a fairly firm dough that holds its shape but isn’t too dry. Using a spoon, scoop out about 10 rough blobs of this mixture and place them onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Make sure to leave some space between each blob, as they will spread a little while baking. For a sweet finishing touch, combine the remaining sugar with a sprinkle of mixed spice, then dust this over the tops of your rock cakes. They’re ready to bake! Place the tray in the oven and let them bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until they turn a lovely golden brown. Enjoy the delightful aroma filling your kitchen!
Nutrition Information
My Tip
For rock cakes with the perfect texture, make sure to rub the butter into the flour until it resembles fine crumbs, but don’t overwork the dough. This will help create that delightful crumbly texture we love in these treats!
Leftovers
To store your rock cakes, place them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days; this keeps them soft and fresh. When you're ready to enjoy them again, pop them in the oven at 180°C (350°F) for about 5-10 minutes to warm them through and revive that lovely texture.
Make It Your Own
For a delightful twist, swap the mixed dried fruit for 100g of chopped dark chocolate and add a pinch of sea salt to the dough. This will give your rock cakes a rich, indulgent flavor that’s hard to resist!
