Saturday, December 21, 2013

Have You Ever Tried Original Welsh Cakes

By Eugenia Dickerson


If you would like to try something new, try simple and delicious Welsh cakes. It is very easy to make them, and they can become your new favorite breakfast snacks. Although they are traditional Welsh desserts, you will find different variations in all parts of the UK. They are called bake stones or pics as well.

These tasty little desserts can be served hot or cold, they can be dusted with iced sugar or spread with butter, marmalade or both. They usually contain simple ingredients, sugar, flour, raisins, currants and different spices, often nutmeg and cinnamon. They were traditionally prepared on a cast iron griddle placed on the fire.

There are several variations, and all are quite popular in this part of the world. The variation with an interesting name of Apple Dragon has similar ingredients, but with the addition of grated apples, and this makes it especially moist. Jam Split variation is very popular in southern areas of Wales. The cake is usually served with a bowl of a home-made jam.

Traditional recipe requires four hundred grams of flour, baking powder, one hundred and twenty grams of lard and the same amount of butter, one hundred and seventy five grams of sugar and only one egg. You should also add a pinch of salt and one hundred grams of currants. Add some nutmeg and cinnamon as well, according to your taste, and you can also add ginger.

The preparation is very similar to making a pie. You should mix flour and spices with lard and butter, until your mixture forms small crumbs. Add sugar and other ingredients, and you can add some milk too, until you get a mixture a little bit moister than the one used for a pie.

When you roll out your pastry up to one inch thick, cut it in round forms, but you can cut it in other forms if you want. Your thick frying pan should be very slightly greased only, and quite hot. Cakes should be baked on both sides, until golden brown. Dust each with iced sugar and serve as they are, or with butter and jam.

Some use self raising flour instead. Some recipes contain more spices, and in some you will find currants and raisins, and even some fresh fruits. If you add more baking powder, the cakes will raise and become fluffier. Although you can use any pan, for this special purpose the best one is heavy cast iron one. You could also use more eggs, and you won't have to add milk in the mixture.

Piceary moen cakes contain regular flour instead of self-raising one, and you should add a baking powder in it. Some versions contain more or less sugar, some use beaten eggs or more different spices, and some contain fresh berries or dried fruits. All favorite spice is certainly nutmeg, although you can always add cinnamon instead.

Welsh cakes are easy to prepare and very tasty. They can be served hot or cold, and if you add some fresh fruits in the mixture, they will be even tastier. Although this cake is usually served dusted with sugar, with jam and butter, you won't make a mistake if you serve it with your favorite cream instead.




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