Baking with kids | (moon) rock cakes

When thinking about Alfie’s home learning themes, I always tried to include one baking/cooking task, or something that involved tasting (like my rainbow fruit platter that I shared on Instagram). This was a favourite during Space week and ever since, Alfie has kept asking for “raisin cake” so I reckon we’ll be making these again soon. I remember making rock cakes when I was younger, and they were always a firm favourite – they must have been the reasoning behind my love of scones and afternoon tea! Anyway, they’re so simple to make, and it’s easy to get the kids involved – even if it’s just like Alfie who poured the dry ingredients in and enjoyed stirring the raisins into the mixture! This recipe will make 12 rock cakes.

Ingredients

• 225g self-raising flour 
• 75g caster sugar 
• 1 tsp baking powder 
• 125g unsalted butter, at room temperature and cut into cubes 
• 150g raisins 
• 1 egg 
• 1 tbs milk 
• 2 tsp vanilla extract/essence

Method

• Preheat the oven to 180C / 160C fan / gas mark 4 and grease a baking tray, or line with baking parchment 
• Pour the flour, sugar and baking powder into a large mixing bowl. Rub in the butter until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Mix in the raisins 
• In a separate small bowl, whisk the egg. Add the milk and vanilla, then pour into the dry ingredients 
• Stir with a spoon until the mixture forms a ball, also using your hands, if necessary. Then divide the mixture into 12, shaping into balls and place on the baking tray, leaving enough room between each 
• Bake for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from the oven and leave to cool for 2 minutes, before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely
• If they last that long, the rock cakes will keep for up to five days, in a tightly sealed container, kept in a cool, dark place

I’m really hoping to turn this into a regular-ish blog feature but would also love to write any recipes we make together in a book for Alfie that he can have as a keepsake. If you have any suggestions or recommendations of things we can bake together (I would like to keep it strictly to biscuits and cakes), please drop me a comment below or catch me on my social channels.

Love, Lucy xx

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*First made together Monday 25^th May 2020