Rock Bun Recipe

Much as I love going out for tea there's plenty of pleasure to be had in creating a lovely afternoon tea at home. With that in mind I thought it was about time I let you in on one of my favourite recipes. As you're probably aware by now I am quite a scone fan, but I find they're hardly worth bothering with if you haven't got great jam and clotted cream to go with them. An easier option is the good old Rock Bun (no sniggering from our US readers) - or Rock Cake if you prefer. They are a bit similar to a scone in flavour but can be served just as they are. Better still they can be made with the kind of ingredients you might well already have in your kitchen.



To make 12 Rock Buns100g (4oz) butter
225g (8oz) plain flour
2 level tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp ground mixed spice
100g (4oz) demerara sugar
100g (4oz) mixed dried fruit (I like the luxury kind but any will do)
grated rind of half a lemon (optional)
1 egg beaten
1 tsp milk (optional)

• Start by greasing 2 baking trays with a little butter.
• Sift the flour, baking powder and mixed spice into a large bowl and rub in the butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
• Stir in the sugar and mixed fruit (and the lemon rind if you're using it)
• Make a well in the centre of the mixture and pour in the egg and the milk if you need it. Bind the mixture together using a fork - it should be stiff and crumbly.
• Use two forks to shape the mixture into rough heaps on the baking trays. The mixture will be much drier and more crumbly than a normal cake or biscuit mixture but that's as it should be. It will bind together during baking.
• Bake in the oven at 200ºC/180ºC fan/400ºF/gas mark 6 for 15-20 minutes
• Cool on a rack - but not for too long, they're delicious warm

I like to serve them with a malty assam and there we have it, a very respectable home-made afternoon tea ready in about half an hour. Everyone who has tried these Rock Buns loves them. And in these testing financial times they are a real bargain to make too.

With some of the very expensive afternoon teas on offer a recipe like this is enough to make you give up tea rooms and cafes altogether. Well, almost...