Wonderful Welsh cakes | Fruit recipes | Jamie Oliver 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'.

While they can be eaten cold, for the perfect experience try and get Welsh cakes warm off the griddle (accompanied by a mug of hot tea, obviously). Some slice them and add jam, while modern variations even add chocolate, cranberries, and other ingredients.

Welsh Cakes have been tea-time favourites in most parts of Wales since the second half of the nineteenth century. They were usually cooked on a bakestone and the Welsh names given to these cakes were usually based on the different regional Welsh name for the bakestone.

The cakes are a cross between a cookie, a scone, and a pancake but they are truly unlike any of these things when it comes to taste and texture. They are the size of chubby cookie, made from ingredients similar to a scone, but they are cooked like a pancake on a griddle, they are not baked.

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.

Welsh cakes are made with plain flour, eggs and shortening and don't rise much. Scones are made with self-raising flour, no eggs, no shortening and rise a lot if done right. Welsh cakes tend to be flatter, more like thick pancakes. Scones are more like cakes.

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.

Welsh cakes are great for storing. They will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for a week or so! They can also be frozen for up to 3 months (remember to wrap them well, label and date). If you are eating them the same day, feel free just to leave them (covered) on a plate on the worktop!

The consistency needs to be bound together, so if too dry add another egg.

Bara brith: our traditional Welsh recipe

Bara Brith is a rich fruit loaf made with tea. Here's our recipe for making this favourite Welsh tea-time treat.

What is the most traditional Welsh dish? ›

Cawl, pronounced in a similar way to the English word "cowl", can be regarded as Wales' national dish. Dating back to the 11th century, originally it was a simple broth of meat (most likely bacon) and vegetables, it could be cooked slowly over the course of the day whilst the family was out working the fields.

Welsh cakes

Perhaps the best-loved of all Welsh treats, these small, circular cakes are dusted in sugar and provide the perfect accompaniment to a hot cup of tea. Traditionally cooked on a bakestone, Welsh cakes can also contain sultanas and chocolate chips for a sweeter twist on the original recipe.

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.

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!

Fairy cakes are not, as their name might imply, themed cakes designed and decorated to the liking of fantasy and sci-fi fans. They are, simply stated, smaller versions of cupcakes. They're widely popular in the UK, and tend not to pile on the icing in the same way that American bakers do with cupcakes.

The last piece of the puzzle, an American biscuit is a crumbly leavened quick bread similar to what we call a scone in the UK.

Called Christmas cake or plum cake in Great Britain, the dessert dates to Roman times! The rich fruit and nut cake is 'fed' with brandy or whiskey - a few spoonfuls at a time, every few days for weeks.

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.