Rock cakes recipe

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These traditional fruity rock cakes or rock buns are a tea time favourite and they're quick too, using simple store cupboard ingredients.

Rock cakes
(Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)
  • healthy
Makes12
SkillEasy
Preparation Time15 mins
Cooking Time15 mins
Total Time30 mins
Cost RangeCheap
Nutrition Per PortionRDA
Calories193 Kcal10%
Sugar13.1 g15%
Fat9.2 g13%
Saturated Fat4.3 g22%
Salt0.32 gRow 4 - Cell 2
Protein3.4 g7%
Carbohydrates24.5 g9%
Salt0.32 gRow 7 - Cell 2

Learn how to make these delicious Brighton rock buns, or rock cakes. This easy rock cakes recipe uses only a handful of ingredients and makes tasty buns every time. 

Also known as Brighton bun cakes, these delicious fruity scone-like treats earnt their name from their jagged, rock-like appearance. Packed with sweet currants and creamy almonds, these teatime snacks were traditionally enjoyed at a number of Britain’s beloved seaside towns. Nowadays, of course, they can be scoffed anywhere. Whip them up in your own kitchen within 30 minutes, using just a few store cupboard ingredients, butter and an egg.

Ingredients

  • 200g (7oz) self-raising flour
  • 50g (1½ oz) ground almonds
  • Pinch of salt
  • 90g (3oz) butter
  • 90g (3oz) caster sugar
  • 90g (3oz) currants, or dried mixed fruit
  • 1 large egg, beaten

WEIGHT CONVERTER

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Method

  1. Set the oven to 190°C (gas mark 5). Sift the flour, ground almonds and salt into a bowl, and rub in the butter. Stir in the sugar, dried fruit and egg, using a round-bladed knife to combine the mixture to a stiff dough.
  2. Divide dough into 12 rough shapes and place them on the baking sheet. Roughen the surface with a fork.
  3. Bake the cakes in the middle of the oven for 15 mins until light golden. Sprinkle with a little extra caster sugar. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. They can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days.

Top tip for making rock cakes:

Don't be tempted to add liquid to this mixture. Its dryness is what gives the cakes their 'rock-like' appearance.

Jessica Dady
Food Editor

Jessica Dady is Food Editor at GoodtoKnow and has over 12 years of experience as a digital editor, specialising in all things food, recipes, and SEO. From the must-buy seasonal food hampers and advent calendars for Christmas to the family-friendly air fryers that’ll make dinner time a breeze, Jessica loves trying and testing various food products to find the best of the best for the busy parents among us. Over the years of working with GoodtoKnow, Jessica has had the privilege of working alongside Future’s Test Kitchen to create exclusive videos - as well as writing, testing, and shooting her own recipes. When she’s not embracing the great outdoors with her family at the weekends, Jessica enjoys baking up a storm in the kitchen with her favourite bakes being chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes, and a tray of gooey chocolate brownies