Easy Welsh Cakes Recipe! (2024)

Welsh Cakes ~ they’re cooked on a griddle like a pancake, but can be eaten out of hand like a scone ~ these sweet, buttery little breakfast cakes are a Welsh tradition that deserve a spot on your brunch or tea table!

Easy Welsh Cakes Recipe! (1)

What are Welsh cakes( Pice ar y maen) ?

It’s always fun to make something entirely new, and if you’re not from Wales, you’ve probably never encountered Celtic cakes (aka bakestone cakes) before ~ they’re a little bit hard to describe! They’re similar to scones and biscuits (but thinner,) fried on both sides like pancakes, and you eat them like an English muffin.

The combination of the currants and the subtle but noticeable hint of nutmeg gives these cakes a really interesting and unique flavor that I totally fell in love with. It’s not a combination of flavors or textures that you’re likely to find in any coffee shop or bakery in the US, which is exactly why you need to make them.

Easy Welsh Cakes Recipe! (2)

I was surprised by how sweet these cakes are. They may look humble and even “wholesome” but they are actually quite a sweet treat, perfect with a cup of coffee in the morning or at tea-time.

The little currants makes these cakes extra special. Look for them with the raisins and other dried fruit in your supermarket. For an American variation you might try dried cranberries.

Easy Welsh Cakes Recipe! (3)

How to cook Welsh cakes

You’ll cook these cakes like pancakes, on the stove.

  • I think the trickiest part about making these Welsh cakes is getting your pan temperature right. Plan on a test-cake or two and you (and your cakes) will be golden!
  • They’ll need a couple minutes on each side to cook through, which means you don’t want the pan to be too hot and brown them too much before they’ve had a chance to cook. Oh, and no butter or oil on the pan necessary!
  • I found that somewhere between medium/medium-low on my stove was perfect, and I recommend a cast iron pan if you one because they keep a nice even heat. You might have to play around a bit to find the sweet spot on your stove.

Easy Welsh Cakes Recipe! (4)

What to serve with Welsh cakes ~

These cakes can be dusted with sugar and a little extra spice once they are baked and simply eaten as is, or you can serve them with a variety of toppings.

  • good quality butter
  • jam
  • clotted cream
  • lemon curd
  • maple syrup
  • honey

To reheat Welsh cakes

  • The easiest way is to pop them in the toaster!

Easy Welsh Cakes Recipe! (5)

More breakfast treats ~

  • Orange and Cardamom Muffins
  • Instant Pot Clotted Cream
  • Glazed Old Fashioned Buttermilk Doughnut Bundt Cake
  • Strawberry Buttermilk Cake

Welsh Cakes

5 from 11 votes

Welsh Cakes ~ they're cooked on a griddle like a pancake, but can be eaten out of hand like a scone, these sweet, buttery little cakes are a Welsh tradition that deserve a spot on your brunch or tea table!

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Prep Time:10 minutes minutes

Cook Time:15 minutes minutes

Servings: 18 cakes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg in a mixing bowl.

  • With your hands, mix the cold butter into the flour mixture until the butter is well dispersed and the whole mixture is crumbly. It's ok to have some small chunks of butter.

  • Add the currants and mix to combine.

  • Briefly whisk the eggs with the milk, and add the liquid to the flour and butter mixture. Mix until everything is just combined. The dough will be very sticky.

  • On a floured surface, pat the dough into a disk and gently roll out until it's about 1/4 to 1/3 of an inch thick. You can divide the dough in half and keep half of it in the fridge until you're ready for it if your rolling surface and frying pan/griddle are on the smaller side.

  • Cut out the cakes with a 3 or 3 1/2 inch biscuit cutter, and lay them on a baking sheet or a piece of parchment paper until you're ready to cook them.

  • Preheat a heavy pan or griddle (cast iron works great here because of its even heating) to medium/medium-low heat, and dry fry (no oil) the cakes. They'll need about 2 or 2 and a half minutes or so on each side. You'll want to make sure your pan is the right temperature so they don't burn on the outside before they get cooked through in the middle, so you might need to do a test-cake or two. Cook them until they're lightly golden and spring back when gently touched.

  • Mix a tablespoon or two of extra sugar with a pinch of nutmeg and/or cinnamon, and dust the finished cakes, if desired. Serve warm with butter, jam, clotted cream, or eat them as is!

Notes

These cakes are fairly sweet, you can definitely reduce the sugar to about 2/3 cup without any problems.

Recipe from King Arthur Flour.

NEW FEATURE! Click here to add your own private notes.

Course: Breakfast, brunch, Dessert

Cuisine: Welsh

Author: Sue Moran

Keyword: Afternoon tea, breakfast, brunch, cake, dessert

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although The View from Great Island attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

Did You Make This?We love seeing what you've made! Tag us on social media at @theviewfromgreatisland for a chance to be featured.

Easy Welsh Cakes Recipe! (7)

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Easy Welsh Cakes Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

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'.

Why are my Welsh cakes so dry? ›

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 difference between a Welsh cake and a scone? ›

Welsh cakes have the texture of scones, but are only about a quarter-inch tall and cooked on the stove in a pan or on a griddle, like a crumpet. They are subtly spiced with a mix of cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg and are best eaten warm—and even better with a smear of salted butter.

Should Welsh cakes be eaten 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 is the slang for welsh cake? ›

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 is the national dessert of Wales? ›

Bara brith

Take afternoon tea anywhere in Wales and the star of the show, usually to be found nestling on the highest tier, is the famous bara brith, a traditional fruit cake with a unique flavour.

How do the Welsh eat Welsh cakes? ›

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

What to eat with Welsh cake? ›

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.

Do Welsh cakes go bad? ›

For Welsh Cakes and Scones, we suggest eating within 3.5 weeks if unrefrigerated. 4.5 weeks if refrigerated and 20 weeks or more if frozen.

What is a fairy cake in England? ›

Fairy cakes are the ultimate children's party classic and such an easy recipe to bake. Fluffy vanilla sponge, creamy icing and sweet strawberry jam are an irresistible combination in this traditional twist on cupcakes.

Do you toast Welsh Cakes? ›

Do not be deceived by their rustic appearance. These pan cooked cakes are melt in the mouth delicious and incredibly more-ish. Serve them warm (you can toast them!) with a healthy spread of butter!

Are Eccles cakes the same as Welsh Cakes? ›

What is a Welsh Cake? It's like a cross between a pancake, cookie, or a scone but they are nothing like it. These are somewhat similar in appearance to Eccles Cakes but Welsh Cakes are a bit flatter than an Eccles Cake and unlike an Eccles Cake, Welsh Cakes are not filled.

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.

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.

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 a Jaffa cake in England? ›

Jaffa Cakes are a cake introduced by McVitie and Price in the UK in 1927 and named after Jaffa oranges. The most common form of Jaffa cakes are circular, 21⁄8 inches (54 mm) in diameter and have three layers: a Genoise sponge base, a layer of orange flavoured jam and a coating of chocolate. Each cake is 46 calories.

What is a fairy cake in British slang? ›

Fairy cakes may refer to: A British cupcake, typically of a smaller size than the American variety.

What is the difference between Eccles cakes and Welsh cakes? ›

These are somewhat similar in appearance to Eccles Cakes but Welsh Cakes are a bit flatter than an Eccles Cake and unlike an Eccles Cake, Welsh Cakes are not filled. In order to make Welsh Cakes, these must be made on a griddle or a bake stone. Once you get the hang of cooking these, it's literally a piece of cake!

What do British people call potato cakes? ›

Bubble and Squeak (or Potato Cakes) is a British classic, and an easy and flexible recipe. You can make it from scratch OR use up leftover veggies. Flavorful, colorful, fluffy, creamy and so so good.

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