Welsh cakes for breakfast, afternoon tea or just a snack!
If you’ve never tried these before, you are in a for a treat! Welsh cakes are a cross between a flat scone and a fat pancake, studded with currants and sprinkled in sugar. These can easily be made ahead and stored in the fridge or freezer, then simply popped in the toaster to heat up! Top with jam (or just butter!) to make these a quick breakfast or a great afternoon tea snack! We first had these when we were on holiday in Wales. We have been back to the same place a few times as it is so peaceful and we always have Welsh cakes! You can see a few views on these previous posts (we are missing out this Summer)!
The Welsh Cake recipe
The ingredients for these are pretty straightforward storecupboard ingredients of flour, butter and sugar, with flaxseeds used as an egg replacer (if you use egg, feel free to substitute one egg instead). The other ingredients are a bit of spice, baking powder and a pinch of salt. Although you can make these without, currants (or raisins or sultanas) are the only ingredient you might have to buy?! Otherwise, what are you waiting for! Get cooking!
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds (linseeds)
- 3 tablespoons water
- 225 g plain flour
- 85 g sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon mixed spice
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- pinch of salt
- 100 g butter (I use Vitalite)
- 50 g currants (or raisins)
- splash of milk (if needed)
- extra flour for rolling out
- extra butter for cooking
- extra sugar for dusting, sprinkled on a plate / shallow bowl
Put the flazseed in a glass with the water, stir and set aside (or prepare equivalent of 1 egg substitute / beat 1 egg)
In a large mixing bowl combine flour, sugar, mixed spice, baking powder and salt.
Rub the butter into the mix until it resembles breadcrumbs.
Mix the currants through.
Add the flax-egg (or egg replacement) and combine to a soft dough. Add a splash of milk if required.
Lightly dust a work surface with flour, then roll the dough out to 0.5cm thick. Using a pastry cutter (standard jam jar lid size), cut rounds and repeat until all of the dough is used. Try to handle the dough as little as possible.
Heat a large pan on a medium heat (a flat griddle pan would be great but a regular frying pan will suffice), and add a bit of butter.
Place as many Wesh cakes as will fit comfortably into the pan and allow to cook for 2-3 minutes before flippng over. Cook for a further 1-2 minutes on this side before removing and tossing in the sugar.
Cook the remaining Welsh cakes as before. Eat warm with butter, jam or just as they are.
Enjoy!
What do I need?
You can (as with most of my recipes), make these as decorative or as plain as you like! Ideally, using a fluted pasty cutter would make them more traditional looking, although if you only have cutters with round edges, that’s fine! You can also just use a mug or a glass to cut the circles out! However, if you are new to cooking or your kitchen needs a refresh, here are a few useful things for this recipe. We do receive a small commission if you click and purchase through these links.
How to serve your Welsh cakes
I suggest eating these warm, either straightaway or reheated in the toaster. Traditionally I believe these are eaten just as they are, or of course you can add a topping such as butter or jam. I’m thinking now that peanut butter might work on these too, or even chocolate spread! Let me know how you eat them in the comments!
Storing
Welsh cakes are great for storing. They will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for a week or so! They can also be frozen for up to 3 months (remember to wrap them well, label and date). If you are eating them the same day, feel free just to leave them (covered) on a plate on the worktop!
Sharing
I love seeing your creations and interpretations of my recipes! Feel free to share and tag me @LifeDietHealth or using #LifeDietHealth on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter.
Leave me a comment below and let me know what you think of these! I would love to hear if you’ve tried them before?!
Speak soon
Laurena x
Hi Laurena, this may be controversial lol: I’m not a fan of crunchy sugar on top of cakes and biscuits ?When hubby used to bring these back from Cardiff I would always wash off the sugar and pat the cakes dry!
Hooray Eva! You managed to post a comment again!? Lol… I thought I was the only one who got rid of sugar??especially from doughnuts! I’ll take my Welsh cakes without the sugar please!?
Yay?Am now just using my phone to respond just in case there was any confusion with using various devices. Didn’t get my usual email notification so the gremlins still have it in for me haha? Hubby loves doughnuts but I make sure he doesn’t bring any home, can’t stand the sugar mess! Welsh/griddled cakes defo one of my faves, yum. Have a nice weekend (was still 30′ at midnight last night??)
Get him to bring Yumyums instead of doughnuts maybe then? Or just make some (did I post the doughnut recipe?). Oh gosh, 30c at night? We’re on about half that now! ?
Well Jell about the temp, do still say that lol. I think my ‘little’ sister liked doughnut things called YumYums back in the 90s☺️
Lol… no idea about Well Jell (I’m so old)! It’s so hard to keep up with all their new sayings these days! Lol at ‘little sister’ 😛 You know my ‘little sister’ is the same age as you! 😀 xxx
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[…] Welsh Cakes are a favourite at any time of day and are often eaten as an afternoon snack with a cup of tea, as indeed are homemade shortbread. Of course, brownies have to feature – these biscoff brownies rarely last a day in our house as they are really one of the most delicious things you can bake! Scones, or ‘sconz‘ depending how you pronounce them, are what we traditionally think of when we think afternoon tea. Then of course there is cake! I love coffee cake and can eat several slices especially with a nice cup of coffee! […]
I ate them with butter. Fat pancake. Normal pancake in America. Lol! 😆
(I lived my first 22 years in England/Wales and my second 22 years in America.)
Hello Leeann, thanks for visiting Life Diet Health. Welsh Cakes with butter is great, I do the same (although I do love them with sliced banana now too)! Are you staying in America then? Some might say that after 22 years in 2 places, it’s time to do the next 22 years somewhere else?!