Rock Cakes

Ingredients

1 cup self-raising flour

1 cup wholemeal self-raising flour

90g cold butter, cubed

½ cup caster sugar (for a healthier option, substitute with 1/3 cup Natvia granulated sweetener)

½ cup mixed dried fruits – sultanas, currents, mixed peel, craisins, dried apple, dried blueberries

1 tbs chopped nuts – your choice

½ tbs spices – ground ginger, cinnamon, allspice, mixed spice, nutmeg

1 egg

3 tbs milk

¼ cup crushed bran cereal

 

Method

1. Preheat oven to 200°C. Grease and line sheet pan with non-stick baking paper
2. Sift flours into a large bowl
3. Add butter and rub into flour with fingertips until it resembles fine breadcrumbs and the butter is evenly distributed through the flour (or use a pastry blender like this one)
    
4. Chop any larger dried fruit into pieces about the size of a sultana
5. Mix in the sugar, fruit, nuts, spices and bran cereal
6. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg and milk together
7. Add milk mixture to the flour mixture and stir until a stiff dough forms
8. Spoon dough into evenly spaced mounds on the prepared pan – mix should make 15-20 cakes
9. Bake for 15-20mins or until golden brown
10. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely
11. Serve plain or lightly buttered.

 

Cinnamon Teacake

Ingredients

125g butter, melted

1 cup Caster sugar

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 tsp vanilla essence

2 cups self raising flour, sifted

2/3 cup milk

TOPPING

2 tbs butter, melted

1 tsp caster sugar

½ tsp cinnamon

Method

1. Preheat oven to 200°C. Grease 20cm round cake pan. Line base with non-stick baking paper
2. Mix together butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla until well combined
3. Stir in flour and milk
4. Mix until smooth
5. Pour mixture into prepared pan. Bake in the centre rack of oven for 20-30mins or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean
6. Remove cake from pan and place on a wire rack
7. While the cake is still warm, brush the top with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar

VARIATION.

1. Apple Cinnamon Upside down cake: Peel and core 2 cooking apples – granny smith works well. Slice into moons. Lay slices into prepared cake tin before adding batter. Invert cake onto wire rack before brushing with butter and adding cinnamon and brown sugar
2. Peach Upside down cake – as above, but with peaches.

 

Peach upside down teacake