If you're not from Wales, you might be surprised to find out that we have our very own cake. But what the hell is a Welsh Cake? The answer is delicious yet simple.
Welsh Cakes are made from flour, eggs, milk, butter, lard, spices & currents. They are baked on a griddle, resulting in a soft scone-like flat round cake, served laced in caster sugar and are best eaten warm! With a similar texture to a pancake and the consistency of a warm soft scone, Welsh Cakes melt in your mouth and are a true Welsh delicacy.
Wales holds a good many culinary traditions, all of which have a fascinating history and are still carried on to this day. There are now many variations both sweet and savoury, plus gluten-free, vegan and free from alternatives. You can find Welsh Cakes all over the UK, from supermarkets, Welsh Bakery and cafes, or of course, you can bake them yourself!
Carry on reading to discover more about the Welsh Cake and what exactly is it that makes them Welsh?
What Are Welsh Cakes?
If you have never had a Welsh Cake before, it mirrors the likeness of a scone, pancake and biscuit all mixed together. It also uses a lot of similar ingredients, but it is traditionally cooked on a Bakestone or these days on a flat iron pan.
The texture is one on its own, beautifully soft and durable, perfect for a quick snack or with a cup of tea. You can eat these by hand with no mess, either hot or cold. There are many different Welsh Cake serving suggestions from Nutella to butter and cheese.
Traditional Welsh Cakes are always cut into rounds of around 4cm, cooked for 3-4 minutes and served covered in caster sugar.
As well as their basic ingredients, they also contain a hint of mixed spices and a handful of currents to give them some fruity texture. They are almost like a scone but a lot smaller and lighter. See my Welsh Cake recipe to find out exactly how to make them.
Welsh Cakes got their base recipe from flatbreads which were also cooked on the Bakestone. The introduction of sweet baking ingredients in the mid-19th century, such as lard, butter and sugar, was a turning point for the Welsh Cake. These ingredients were added along with currents to create this delicious new recipe that has stood the test of time and is still a proud favourite today
If you have never tried or made Welsh Cakes before, it only takes 15 minutes from start to finish. They are a great treat and activity to do with the kids. There are unlimited variations from chocolate chip to herb and pesto so whatever your preference, sweet or savoury, you can create your own!
You can also make them with just plant-based products. See my vegan Welsh Cake recipe to find out how.
Where Did Welsh Cakes Originate From?
By the 19th century, Wales had become the biggest Coal exporter in the world, being home to thousands of miners and their families. They were not a rich class of people and lived off basic ingredients to feed their families.
Using their limited stock, the miners' wives would make up a tub of dough, cut it into rounds and cook them on a traditional bakestone. When cooked, they were durable and perfect to go in the miner's pockets or the children's lunch boxes
Another perk for the families was that they last for 3.5 weeks without being refrigerated so nothing goes to waste and the cheap ingredients make a daily addition to their diet.
The wives of the miners would also cook Welsh Cakes as a quick and convenient accompaniment to a nice afternoon tea, covered in caster sugar and enjoyed with their families with a cup of tea. Traditionally served warm off the Bakestone, the traditional Welsh Cake can’t be beaten.
As time went on, mining faded out and Welsh Cakes fell down the food chain. Thanks to traditional Welsh bakers and proud Welsh families, they have carried on one of the biggest traditions in Wales, carrying on our culture, embracing our history and most importantly keeping these delicious cakes alive today.
What Makes a Welsh Cake Welsh?
The name Welsh Cakes (or Picau ar y Maen in Welsh) comes from the use of the traditional bakestone the cakes were cooked on. Bakestones are associated with Wales and are a 4cm thick, circular, cast iron or steel cooking tool used to put over a fire to cook these traditional Welsh Cakes and other items.
It was however not always made of Metal, before the 29th-century Bakestones were made out of stone, usually slate. This traditional cooking method gives the Welsh Cake its proud name, although they are also known as bakestones, griddle cakes or pics
Historically some villages in Wales even had their own method of cooking Welsh Cakes. In the county of Glamorgan, they would use Dutch Ovens, if they could not afford a Bakestone, in front of a hot red fire to cook these through, this is usually where the name 'Pics' comes from
The Welsh Cakes' strong connection to the minors also lends itself to the name given to these delicious rounds. A staple to their daily diet down the mines, it was inevitable that the Welsh Cake would be named after them.
Legend has it that the Welsh Cake goes back even further to 1865 when a group of Welsh men and women sailed over to Argentina to escape the English ways and continue their own culture and traditions. While inhabiting Argentina the travellers used what ingredients they could find to cook up a calorie-filled & durable dish for people to keep their energy up.
Fun Fact: It is said that the Welsh cake was used in Argentina as the base of their wedding cakes, kept in a tin and only eaten once a month by the couple as a symbol of overcoming all difficulties
What's the Difference Between a Scone and a Welsh Cake?
With many similar ingredients to a scone and some added spices, the Welsh Cake Is traditionally served on its own with no accompaniment, like the much-loved Jam & Cream topping on a scone. Secondly, scones are baked in the oven at around 200c for 10-15 minutes, while Welsh Cakes are traditionally cooked on a bakestone or a flat iron pan for just 3-4 minutes on each side. The final product is similar in texture and flavour, but it is definitely one of a kind.
Related Questions
Is a Welsh Cake a Biscuit or a Cake?
Welsh Cakes are generally considered to be cakes due to their light and soft texture, whereas biscuits tend to be crunchier. However, there is no official status.
What's the Welsh Word for Welsh Cakes?
There are a few variations of the Welsh name for Welsh Cakes, just as there are in English (e.g. Bakestones or Round Cakes). The four Welsh words for Welsh Cakes are: Picau ar y Maen, Pice Bach, Cacennau Cri or Teisennau Gradell.
Are Eccles Cakes Welsh?
No, Eccles Cakes are not Welsh, they were created in the country of Lancashire and named after the small town of Eccles where they remain a baked tradition today.
Published: 27 October 2022 · Last updated: 8 November 2022