Rock cake is a sweet treat made of eggs, flour, sugar, developer, and fruit. This dish originated in England and became known during World War II as a simple but delicious dessert. The name rock cake comes from its hard and crunchy exterior, but the inside is a soft cake that goes well with tea or coffee.
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups flour
- 4 oz. (113, 4 g) butter, cooled
- 6oz. (170, 1 g) sugar
- 2 teaspoons developer powder
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-2 tablespoons milk
- 2 oz. (56.7 g) dried fruits (raisins, currents, cherries, sultanas)
Additional Ingredients (Optional)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, allspice, ground cloves
- 2 oz. (56.7 g) half-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup instant oats
- 1 cup apple slices
- 1 cup grated coconut
Step
Method 1 of 2: Making a Rock Cake
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 176°C
On gas stoves with heat instructions, this is usually around 6.
Step 2. Cut the butter into small cubes
The butter should be a few cm. This will make it easier to mix.
Chill the butter in the refrigerator or freezer for 20-30 minutes beforehand to make it easier to cook
Step 3. Pour 1¾ cups of flour and 113.4 grams of butter into a mixing bowl
When measuring flour, use a sieve or stir the flour quickly with a fork to break up large lumps and get the right size.
Step 4. Cut the butter and put it in the flour until it looks like fine breadcrumbs
Add the cooled butter to coat with the flour. Then, take two knives and cut the mixture in a criss-cross motion. Cut into an "X" shape in butter and flour with both knives. The butter should be about the size of a pea when you're done.
You can also lightly massage the butter and expand it with your fingertips or use a pastry blender, which looks like 4-5 loops of wire and is attached to a handle
Step 5. Add sugar, developer powder and fruit
Mix these ingredients together so that they are evenly distributed, then stop. Over-mixing can result in a cake that has a floury or hard taste.
Step 6. Beat the eggs and vanilla essence in a separate bowl and add them to the flour mixture
Mix together until a stiff dough forms.
If you have difficulty mixing the dough, add 1-2 tablespoons of milk to melt it
Step 7. Grease a large grill tray with oil
Use a spray of oil or a little butter to grease the baking tray to prevent the rock cake from sticking.
You can also cut a piece of parchment paper and use it to line the grill tray
Step 8. Place a spoonful of dough 5.08-7.62 cm apart on the baking tray
Use a spoon and place the dough onto a greased baking tray. Remember- this is a rock cake, so it doesn't have to look pretty but rock.
Step 9. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes at 176°C
Check the cake occasionally to make sure it doesn't burn. The cake is finished when the outside is hardened and golden brown.
Method 2 of 2: Other Variations
Step 1. Add cinnamon and nutmeg for a spiced rock cake
Rock cake like this goes well with tea or coffee. All you have to do is add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and teaspoon of nutmeg to the flour for a delicious, spiced cake. You can also consider teaspoon of allspice, cloves, or orange zest to taste.
Step 2. Add 1 cup of oats for a classic English rock cake
Combine the oats after cutting the butter and flour. You may have to add cup of milk to do this, as oats absorb liquid quickly.
Step 3. Add apple slices and cinnamon for the apple cake
This simple, scone-like treat is easy to make. You just add apples and cinnamon instead of dried fruit.
Step 4. Add grated coconut to the Jamaican rock cake
This rock cake will taste a little like coconut macaroon which is not sweet, but makes it even more delicious. Mix coconut with dried fruit.
Step 5. Replace chocolate with dried fruit for cake sweetener
Some people think that everything is better with chocolate, and they will insist on their opinion. All you have to do is add the same amount of semi-sweet chocolate chips as in the dry fruit step.
Step 6. Add lemon or orange juice for a moist orange rock cake
Squeeze half a lemon and add a little orange juice instead of milk to add a little tang to your rock cake.
- You can also add cup of lemon jam for a sweet and creamy cake, which is similar to a scone.
- Grate 1-2 tablespoons of orange or lemon zest into the mixture for a more pronounced/strong citrus taste.
