Wednesday 20 April 2016

HOMEMADE: Orange, Vanilla and Cinnamon Rock Cakes


Quick, economical and addictively tasty, the humble Rock Cake is a kitchen treasure that'll delight both young and old alike. All that said, with an abundance of recipes now available both online and in books, such simple creations can easily be overlooked. In my case, it was only the other day when someone happened to mention their love of Rock Cakes that I was reminded of how long it had been since I last made them.

Presentation-wise, I'll keep this brief. Their golden exterior and visibly irregular studding of dried fruit make for a suitably rugged-looking bake. Indeed, their uneven form goes some way at least in capturing the idea of a rock - or mound of rocks. Admittedly, not at all sophisticated but charming nonetheless. 

As for taste, the notes of vanilla and orange are immediately apparent and certainly more than welcoming. Taking a bite, these flavours translate to the palate with the vanilla's flavour deliciously distinct, the cinnamon's sweetness chiming in and the orange's zestiness cutting through the whole ensemble. Thankfully, texture-wise, Rock Cakes don't live up to the solidity of their name. The basic dough crumbles beautifully to the bite with the exposed surface offering a slight crispness; whilst, the generous helping of dried fruit punctuates proceedings beautifully as it interjects with soft, juicy bursts of flavour. 

All in all, this offering boasts the usual charm of a Rock Cake whilst offering a twist that balances notes of vanilla, orange and cinnamon well. On reflection, I might include a teaspoon of orange juice next time to just bump up the citrus tang slightly but, still, these were an absolute delight to eat. Recommended.

RECIPE
See here.

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