Rock Cakes

Tuesday 19 January 2010



If you are a fan of Harry Potter, as I am, you would know that Rock Cakes are one of Harry's favourite tea time treats!



You would also know that Ron Weasely's mum is the best baker ever, and that her rock cakes . . . well . . . rock Harry's world!



For nine years, I have been thinking that they were biscuits (cookies), sort of like the Hermit cookies that my mother used to bake. I couldn't have been more wrong.



Rock cakes are delightful little drop scone-like cakes, and absolutely lovely served warm from the oven, and spread with a little butter. They are also one of the quickest and easiest cakes to make.



I seriously don't know why I waited so long to make them. These are fabulous!

We sat here on Sunday evening, munching on these lovely little cakes, while we were watching Larkrise to Candleford. Warm, split and spread with sweet butter, they were incredibly scrummy.




I think I can safely say . . . Rock Cakes are my only weakness . . .

Truly.

(recipe adapted from The Baking Bible, from the oven to the table, Marks & Spencer)



*Rock Cakes*
Makes 8 to 10
Printable Recipe

These are like a delicious scone stogged full of lovely mixed fruit. Fabulous, simply fabulous.

4 ounces unsalted butter, cut into bits
8 ounces plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
3 ounces light muscovado sugar
3 ounces mixed dried fruit
the finely grated zest of one lemon
1 large egg
1 to 2 TBS milk
2 tsp demerara sugar

Pre-heat the oven to 200*C/400*F. Lightly grease a large baking sheet

Sift the flour and baking powder into a large bowl. Drop in the butter bits, adn then rub them into the flour with the tips of your fingers until the mixture resembles sand. Stir in the sugar, mixed fruit and lemon zest.

Beat the egg and 1 TBS of milk together. Stir this into the flour mixture, add the other TBS of milk as needed to make a moist but firm dough.

Using a dessert spoon, drop 8 to 10 equal heaps onto the prepared baking tray. Sprinkle with the demerara sugar.

Bake in the heated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through the baking time, until risen, golden brown and firm. Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool before eating.



Guess, I'll have to make some more, huh?

21 comments

  1. As the mother/wife of a houseful of Harry Potter fans, I feel it my duty to try this recipe right away...and I'll probably end up with my counter looking like your last fabulous photo--you're so clever!

    These look absolutely delicious! We just finished a "Harry Potter" marathon at our house--watched each one as close together as we could...we love doing that together! Wish I'd had this recipe then!

    Oh! My mom just arrived tonight...we went to a bookshop, and I saw "Larkrise to Candleford" and started saying how wonderful you said it was, and what do you know? She purchased it for me for my birthday gift! I couldn't believe she did it--it wasn't cheap! (The whole first season!)

    Can't wait to sit down and gobble it up! That might just be the time to bake up some Rock Cakes....hmmmmm! Hugs and kisses!

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  2. Until I found out what rock cakes were years & years ago, I wondered why such an odd name... but they do look a bit like rocks! But they are soo good! Anything scone-like, I'll take! Happy Day, Marie--LOVE YA :o) ((BIG HUGS))

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  3. Nostalgia! These were a childhood staple, but it has been years since I had one!

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  4. I love Harry Potter and the childs too! and these rock cakes look awesome Marie, have a really nice day, hugggss, gloria

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  5. Hi

    Would love to make the rock cakes but in South Africa we use grams and kilograms as measurements. Pity. Jane

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    Replies
    1. You can Google for the equivalents by searching. ie 3 ounces sugar to grams (I already worked that one out, it's 85 grams to 3 ounces of sugar).

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  6. I had no idea that rock cakes were "real"!!! We are big fans of HP, so I will definitely be giving these a try :) Thanks again for de-bunking another myth for me, lol ;)

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  7. And they make me think of Jane Brocket who is always mentioning them in her writing. I guess they eat quite a few in their house.

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  8. Ha ha, your only weakness, that's a good one. YOur rock cakes look good.

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  9. Yum, these look spectacular!

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  10. I have got to try these!!!!!!!

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  11. I'm in the US and have never heard of muscovado sugar. A clue???

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  12. Don't let any of those crumbs get away! What a great recipe! Something I've never made!

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  13. thanks for the recipe! can't wait to try it.

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  14. Hi Marian, also known as Barbados sugar, muscavado sugar is a darker moister type of brown sugar. You can substitute regular brown sugar for it if you like.

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  15. I'm with Joy - these are totally a nostalgic treat for me. Haven't had them for years, but we used to have them all the time when I was a kid, I think because they were so easy to make. But it's definitely to try them again!

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  16. I love making a version of these for breakfast sometimes. So quick yet so satisfying. Not had proper rock cakes for years when I used to bake them with my grandmother

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  17. I grew up on these, but also have not had any for some time now. I think I should get baking; rock cakes are a very English staple I had not thought about lately.

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  18. I remember making rock cakes at primary school years ago but lately I can't stop thinking about how yummy they were, so I've jus made a batch with hazlenuts as I don't like dried fruits....I guess I'll know soon enough they are in the oven as I write...

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  19. I love Harry Potter! Until now, I had no idea the rock cakes were real. I thought they were something you only get if you got sucked into the books! I have always wanted to try them, and the recipe looks great. Can't wait to try them(unless they're like Hagrid's!)

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  20. pauline morris has left a new comment on your post "Rock Cakes":

    I had rock cakes when my husband and at was at stonehenge and loved them, but I thought they were called rock cookies.so for many years could not find them. I live in columbus ohio and today I will have the pleasure of making this treat for mothers day! thank you so mush. Paula Morris

    Pauline, I accidentally deleted your comment. Big thumbs, small iPad keys!! Thank you so much! I hope that you enjoy them, and that you have a lovely Mothers Day! Xx

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