Old-School Chorley Cake (Lancashire Fruit Slice) 🍰
These traditional Chorley Cakes are a delicious treat from Lancashire, filled with a mix of currants and spices, then baked to a golden perfection. Often served with a dab of butter, they are perfect with a cuppa!
Ingredients:
🍞 Plain flour: 250g
🧈 Butter: 125g, cold and cubed
💧 Cold water: 3-4 tbsp
🍇 Dried currants: 150g
🍬 Caster sugar: 2 tbsp
🍏 Ground cinnamon: ½ tsp
🍏 Ground nutmeg: ¼ tsp
🌾 Salt: 1 pinch
🥄 Milk: 1 tbsp (for glazing)
Method:
🍞 Start by preheating your oven to 180°C (160°C fan) or 350°F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
🧈 In a large mixing bowl, rub the butter into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
💧 Gradually add the cold water, a tablespoon at a time, mixing until a soft dough forms.
🍇 Stir in the currants, sugar, and spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of salt). Bring the dough together and knead briefly on a lightly floured surface.
🍴 Roll out the dough to about ½ cm thickness and use a round cutter (about 8cm) to cut out circles.
🍰 Place half of the rounds onto your prepared baking tray, then top each with a little more currant filling. Place the remaining rounds on top and press the edges together to seal.
🥄 Make three slashes in the top of each cake and brush with a little milk for a golden finish.
🔥 Pop them into the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden and cooked through.
🧈 Once done, remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before serving. They are lovely served warm with a knob of butter on top!
Serving Information:
⏱ Prep Time: 20 minutes | 🍳 Cooking Time: 25 minutes | 🍴 Servings: 8 | 🔥 Calories: ~200 per serving