Welsh Cookies (aka Welsh Cakes) Recipe (2024)

Monday, December 30, 2019

How to make Welsh cookies. Also called Welsh cakes, this delicious dessert is fried on a griddle and packed with a unique flavor of currants and nutmeg.

Although my parents and grandparents were born in the United States, my grandmother had several family member in Wales. She would write them letters and visit them, so she passed on some of the food and culture.

My absolute favorite Welsh treat is this Welsh cookie recipe. Welsh cookies, also called Welsh cakes, are unlike other cookies. They are made similar to a dough, then they are cooked on a griddle and then dipped in sugar.

Welsh Cookies (aka Welsh Cakes) Recipe (1)

They are pretty easy to make, but the currants can be hard to find. My grocery store only carries them in the fall though Christmas, so I stock up or order them online if I need them though the year.

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My grandmother used to make these all the time. She would spend hours making several batches of these delicious cookies and freeze the leftovers. She would put them in an ice cream bucket and put them in her big freezer for later.

When someone stopped by, she would have a grandkid sneak down to the basem*nt to get the ice cream bucket and set them out on a plate. In about an hour, we had delicious cookies.

My grandmother always made these with a scalloped cookie cutter. I'm not sure what the significance of that cookie cutter was, but I think someone in the family made it. She only used it for Welsh cookies though.

When she passed, everyone wanted that cookie cutter. I didn't get it, but I did find one similar. Mine has smaller scallops, so they don't turn out quite the same. But they taste the same, and that's all that matters.

More dessert recipes I'm sure you'll love:

  • Easy Rice Pudding Recipe
  • Baked Pumpkin Doughnuts
  • Blueberry Mug Cake Recipe

What is the Best Way to Eat a Welsh Cake (Cookie)?

They are delicious warm or room temperature. I had plenty of them still partially frozen from the deep freeze, but I will admit that they are better warm.

If you do want to reheat them, it's best to heat them in a pan on the stove rather than microwave them. You can also heat them at 275 degrees Fahrenheit for three to four minutes.

You can dip them in sugar like I do or leave them plain and eat them with jam or butter.

Why Are They Called Welsh Cakes (Cookies)?

I grew up calling them Welsh cookies, but the Internet tells me that they are actually called Welsh cakes. They are also sometimes called bakestones or griddle cakes.

They were traditionally made on a cast iron griddle over an open fire. I use an electric skillet to make mine, and I've also made them in a pan on the stove.

Welsh Cookies (aka Welsh Cakes) Recipe (2)

How Long Do Welsh Cakes (Cookies) Last?

Welsh cakes will last about a week in an airtight container. You can also freeze them. They freeze beautifully and don't get soft when they thaw.

What are Currants?

You really do need to use currants for this recipe. You might be tempted to add raisins, but they will not taste the same.

Currants do come from grapes, specifically the Black Corinth grape. They are dried and give a sweet and flavorful dried fruit.

They are sometimes called Zante currants because the grapes were grown on the island of Zante south of Greece.

Welsh Cookies (aka Welsh Cakes) Recipe (3)

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups white flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup vegetable shortening
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 cup currants
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extractWelsh Cookies (aka Welsh Cakes) Recipe (4) (or make your own vanilla extract)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup milk

Directions

Step #1

Add the white flour, salt, and vegetable shortening to a large bowl. Use a pastry blender to mix like you would a pie dough. It will be crumbly.

Welsh Cookies (aka Welsh Cakes) Recipe (5)


Step #2

Add the baking powder, nutmeg, currants, sugar, vanilla extract, eggs, and milk to the flour mixture. Stir well to combine.

Welsh Cookies (aka Welsh Cakes) Recipe (6)


Step #3

Roll to 1/4" thick. Cut out. If I made this when it's warm in the house, I put the dough in the fridge for 20 minutes to chill so it holds together easier.

Welsh Cookies (aka Welsh Cakes) Recipe (7)


Step #4

Cook on a greased griddle at 300 degrees until brown, about 3-4 minutes. Flip and cook again until brown.

Welsh Cookies (aka Welsh Cakes) Recipe (8)


Step #5

Remove from griddle and dip in white sugar. Flip to cover. Set on a baking rack to cool.

Welsh Cookies (aka Welsh Cakes) Recipe (9)


Yum! These Welsh cookies are delicious. They make a great snack with tea or just because. They aren't sweet, and the currants give them a different flavor than other cookies.

Welsh Cookies (aka Welsh Cakes) Recipe (10)


welsh cookie, welsh cake, cookie, dessert, currants

dessert

Welsh

Yield: 32

Author: Cari @ Koti Beth

Welsh Cookies (aka Welsh Cakes) Recipe (11)

Welsh Cookies Recipe

prep time: 15 Mcook time: 1 hourtotal time: 1 H & 15 M

How to make traditional Welsh cookies (Welsh cakes).

ingredients:

  • 2 1/2 cups white flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup vegetable shortening
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 cup currants
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or make your own vanilla extract)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup milk

instructions:

How to cook Welsh Cookies Recipe

  1. Add the white flour, salt, and vegetable shortening to a large bowl. Use a pastry blender to mix like you would a pie dough. It will be crumbly.
  2. Add the baking powder, nutmeg, currants, sugar, vanilla extract, eggs, and milk to the flour mixture. Stir well to combine.
  3. Roll to 1/4" thick. Cut out. If I made this when it's warm in the house, I put the dough in the fridge for 20 minutes to chill so it holds together easier.
  4. Cook on a greased griddle at 300 degrees until brown, about 3-4 minutes. Flip and cook again until brown.
  5. Remove from griddle and dip in white sugar. Flip to cover. Set on a baking rack to cool.

Calories
136.18

Fat (grams)
6.86

Sat. Fat (grams)
2.73

Carbs (grams)
17.21

Fiber (grams)
0.58

Net carbs
16.63

Sugar (grams)
9.32

Protein (grams)
1.65

Sodium (milligrams)
30.21

Cholesterol (grams)
15.37

https://www.kotibeth.com/2019/12/welsh-cookies-aka-welsh-cakes-recipe.html

Copyright © Koti Beth 2019. All rights reserved.

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Welsh Cookies (aka Welsh Cakes) Recipe (12)


Welsh Cookies (aka Welsh Cakes) Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What do Welsh people call Welsh cakes? ›

Welsh cakes (Welsh: picau ar y maen, pice bach, cacennau cri or teisennau gradell), also bakestones or pics, are a traditional sweet bread in Wales. They have been popular since the late 19th century with the addition of fat, sugar and dried fruit to a longer standing recipe for flat-bread baked on a griddle.

Why are my Welsh cakes so dry? ›

Next time, add a little bit of milk so the mix is softer. Welsh Cakes are pretty forgiving, but it's not a great idea to cut them out and then leave them uncooked for a while: this can also be a cause of dryness and poor texture.

What is the best Welsh cake brand? ›

Tan Y Castell Welshcakes have won numerous awards and are recognised for their taste and quality, resulting in them now being one of the best-selling Welsh cakes on the market.

What is the difference between scones and Welsh cakes? ›

According to Doug Windsor, the former national chef of Wales, the two cakes are made in a different way. He explained: "A Welsh cake is made from a dough, while a drop scone is made from a batter and is more of a pancake," he said.

What is a Welsh girl called? ›

Welshwoman in British English

(ˈwɛlʃwʊmən ) nounWord forms: plural Welshwomen. a woman who is a native or inhabitant of Wales.

Do you eat Welsh cakes 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.

Do Welsh Cakes go bad? ›

You can make the dough, roll and cut out the welsh cakes and refrigerate for a day if you need. Take them out of the fridge in time to lose a bit of chill before griddling them. MAKE AHEAD / STORE: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in a cool place for up to 5 days.

Do you toast Welsh Cakes? ›

Cakes may be eaten straight from the package however most people prefer them warmed. Warming takes 8-10 seconds for one cake in a 1500W microwave, 10-12 seconds for a whole pack. If heating in an oven, 2-3 mins @ 275 will usually do. Some folks tell us they toast the cakes and we like that too.

How to use a baking stone for Welsh Cakes? ›

Step 3: Cooking on the Bakestone

It requires a low heat, it should feel a little hot with your hand about an inch above it. Grease the bakestone with a little butter. Place the cakes on the stone, allow to cook for a short while, and then flip them over. You are aiming for a golden brown colour.

What is the most fancy cake in the world? ›

Diamond Cake by Debbie Wingham – $75 million

It is a great example of culinary craftsmanship as the cake is adorned with edible diamonds. The 'diamonds' on the cake reflect light like genuine gemstones. Therefore, the intricacy of the design and the detailing made the cake the most expensive cake.

What is the slang for Welsh cakes? ›

Pica Bach or Pice Bach

These were general terms used for Welsh cakes, and refer to the food as being 'small cakes'. They can also be called 'pican' or 'picen' and were called these in Carmarthenshire, Aberystwyth and the old West Glamorgan (Swansea and Neath Port Talbot today).

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 are biscuits called in England? ›

In Britain, what Americans refer to as “biscuits” are known as “scones.” British biscuits are actually what Americans call “cookies.” The term “biscuits” in the United Kingdom typically refers to sweet, crumbly, and sometimes buttery bakes treats, distinct from the soft, bread-like biscuits found in the United States.

How do you say cake in Welsh? ›

'Cacen' is the Welsh word for 'cake,' and in the south Wales dialect, you can also use 'teisen. ' Additionally, 'teisen' is heard in some parts of north Wales, particularly on Ynys Môn – the Isle of Anglesey.

What is a Welsh bakestone called? ›

Welshcakes are cooked on a bakestone. This is a flat cast iron cooking plate – like a griddle only thicker. The bakestone is also called a 'planc' in certain parts of Wales and in North Wales it may be referred to as 'maen'.

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.

What does yaki dar mean in Wales? ›

How do you say cheers in Welsh? The Welsh word for cheers is 'iechyd da'. It is a common phrase used in Wales, even among those who don't speak Welsh fluently. Over the years, the saying has become anglicised among the English-speaking in Wales, and is often pronounced 'yaki dah'.

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