How to Make Welsh Cakes for St. David’s Day

It has become a tradition in my house that we make Welsh Cakes for St David’s Day. As a child in Wales St David’s Day was a big event. We would go to school dressed in traditional costume. The morning would involve a special assembly during which we sang Welsh songs and presented prizes for the Welsh themed art and craft activities we had been involved in. We even had a half day to mark the occasion.

Living in England, St David’s Day is a low key affair but I always wear my daffodil and make Welsh Cakes.

Ingredients (makes approx 24)

175g( 3/4 cup) butter and lard mixed

450g (2 cups) self-raising flour

175g (3/4 cup) caster sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp mixed spice

75g (1/3 cup) currants

2 eggs

rub fat into flour — Step 1. Rub fat into flour (or tickle it)

baking — Step 2. Add the other dry ingredients.

beat eggs — Step 3. Beat eggs and add to mixture

(Spot the baby cunningly stealing an apple).

Welsh cakes are traditionally cooked on a bakestone, a cast iron or steel griddle that would have been placed on the fire. If you don’t have one a heavy frying pan would suffice. Place it on the hob on a very low heat.