Vegan Welsh Cakes Recipe — Vegan Recipe Bowl (2024)

By BENJAMIN Jump to Recipe

Vegan Welsh Cakes Recipe — Vegan Recipe Bowl (1)

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I love veganising classic recipes like welsh cakes. There’s something incredibly satisfying about enjoying a favourite recipe again. Plus these projects always involve unique challenges. This time it’s getting that buttery flavour right.

Traditional welsh cakes are buttery on the outside with a soft, flaky inside. The challenge is maintaining this authentic flavour and texture with a new, completely egg-free and dairy-free recipe.

Of all the flavours, ‘buttery’ has been one of the most difficult in my vegan baking. However, this recipe is a breakthrough.

Surprisingly, the trick to making dairy-free welsh cakes taste buttery turned out to be generously greasing the skillet with vegan margarine. I’ve tested various brands now, and it actually seems any margarine works! This discovery was awesome but intriguing. Why is oil bland and every type of margarine I tried surprisingly buttery?

More curiously still, margarine brands that aren’t even claiming to be butter flavoured make buttery tasting welsh cakes!

The answer appears to be salt. Margarine contains a little salt that will deposit on the welsh cakes during cooking. It’s subtle, but important. That little bit of surface seasoning greatly influences their taste, giving them a remarkably buttery flavour.

Butter has it’s own flavour, but it’s also a source of salt. I’m often surprised just how much flavour returns to dairy-free recipes when I simply add the right amount of salt in the right location. Seasoning is such a crucial step in cooking, and when veganising recipes we have to take in to account all sources.

How to cook perfect welsh cakes

As soon as the liquids are added to the dry, the amount of further handling influences how soft vs. tough your welsh cakes will be. So, mix your dry ingredients thoroughly before adding any liquids. Then you can bring the dough together with the least additional handling possible.

Crucially, delicate handling when bringing the dough together makes for the lightest, flakiest texture.

As for cooking them, choose a thick base pan which has lots of thermal mass and preheat well over a moderate heat. However, if you’re lucky enough to have a traditional bakestoke, use it! Being very thick cast iron they excel at cooking welsh cakes to a perfect crisp, golden outside with soft inside.

Vegan Welsh Cakes Recipe — Vegan Recipe Bowl (2)

You can check out my favourite baking stone here KitchenCraft Baking Stone, Round, Cast Iron, 27 cm

Have you enjoyed making these vegan welsh cakes, or have a question or suggestion? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.

For more traditional British vegan recipes, check out my rock cakes or Chelsea buns.

Vegan Welsh Cakes Recipe — Vegan Recipe Bowl (3)

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5 from 1 vote

Vegan Welsh Cakes

Thanks to a simple trick, these vegan welsh cakes are crisp and buttery on the outside with a soft, flaky inside. A delicious vegan snack to enjoy with a hot cup of tea. Recipe from veganrecipebowl.com

Course Snack

Cuisine British

Keyword dairy free, egg free

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 20 welsh cakes

Calories 100kcal

Author BENJAMIN

Ingredients

  • 100 g plain soy milk
  • 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed (roughly 10g)
  • 225 g plain white flour (aka all-purpose flour)
  • 100 g vegan margarine (plus extra to grease pan)
  • 50 g golden castor sugar (plus extra to sprinkle)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon fine salt
  • 75 g sultanas

Instructions

  • Mix together the soy milk and ground flaxseed – making sure to thoroughly wet the flaxseeds. Set aside to thicken for at least 15 minutes.

  • In a large bowl, rub in the flour, margarine, sugar, baking powder and salt until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the dried fruit and mix to distribute evenly. Finally, gently mix in the flaxseed and soy milk mixture – the goal is to bring everything together as a cohesive dough with the least handling possible. First, stir with a spoon until everything is just wetted, then with lightly floured hands grasp the dough and gently press it together, rotating it and pressing a few times until it forms a ball that doesn't fall apart when handled.

  • Roll out the dough on a lightly floured work surface to roughly 0.75 cm thick. Cut out rounds using a 7 cm cutter, re-rolling and cutting any trimmings until the dough is used up. Generously grease a flat griddle pan or heavy frying pan with margarine, and place over a medium heat. Cook the Welsh cakes in batches, for 2-3 mins each side, until golden brown, crisp and cooked through.

  • Remove from the pan and sprinkle with caster sugar while still warm.

Notes

Welsh cakes are best when served freshly made and warm. However, once cooled they keep well for up to two days in an airtight container stored in a cool place.

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Vegan Welsh Cakes Recipe — Vegan Recipe Bowl (7)

About BENJAMIN

Hello! My name is Ben. I love vegan food and I believe creating the best vegan foods possible is the key to showing plant based is an exciting and creative cuisine in its own right. One that selects ingredients carefully and keeps surprising us with its possibilities.

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Vegan Welsh Cakes Recipe — Vegan Recipe Bowl (9)

GreggSor

4 years ago

Vegan Welsh Cakes Recipe — Vegan Recipe Bowl (10)
My nan used to make them… brings back memories! Been looking for an egg-free recipe and this one worked great.

Reply

Author

Reply to GreggSor

4 years ago

Awesome to hear you’ve tried the recipe and enjoyed them 🙂

Reply

Vegan Welsh Cakes Recipe — Vegan Recipe Bowl (12)

Ally

4 years ago

Do they freeze?

Reply

Author

Reply to Ally

4 years ago

Yes, but wrap them up well to keep them moist. I’ve only kept them frozen for a couple of weeks so far, but you might be able to go longer. Hope this helps 🙂

Reply

Vegan Welsh Cakes Recipe — Vegan Recipe Bowl (14)

Samantha Feltham

4 years ago

How thick is the flaxseed mix meant to get? Mine is watery?

Reply

Author

Reply to Samantha Feltham

3 years ago

Hi Samantha, the ground flaxseed and soy milk should thicken a bit while standing, but the end result is still a liquid that pours easily.

Hope this helps and you enjoy the recipe!

Reply

Vegan Welsh Cakes Recipe — Vegan Recipe Bowl (16)

Steve

3 years ago

You haven’t put the caster sugar in the mix in your instructions

Reply

Author

Reply to Steve

3 years ago

Thanks Steve, it’s fixed now!

Reply

Vegan Welsh Cakes Recipe — Vegan Recipe Bowl (18)

Joshua

3 years ago

These are delicious 😋 Thank you !!

Reply

Author

Reply to Joshua

3 years ago

Awesome to hear you’re enjoying these! Thank you for the feedback 🙂

Reply

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FAQs

Why do my Welsh cakes go hard? ›

Why did my Welsh cakes turn out hard, dry or crumbly? If your Welsh Cakes turned out hard, dry or crumbly, your mixture was probably not wet enough. Next time, add a little bit of milk so the mix is softer.

What are Welsh cakes called in England? ›

They were usually called Pica ar y Maen in south Carmarthenshire, West Glamorgan and South Glamorgan. In English, they would be called 'bakestone cakes' or simply 'bakestones'.

Why are Welsh cakes so popular in Wales? ›

Welsh Cakes have been tea-time favourites in most parts of Wales since the second half of the nineteenth century. They were usually cooked on a bakestone and the Welsh names given to these cakes were usually based on the different regional Welsh name for the bakestone.

Are Welsh cakes the same as scones? ›

Welsh cakes do not have the same solid structure and the hidden texture of English scones, but their thinness (they are way “slimmer” than scones, or American biscuits) is indeed deceitful, as they are packed with even more flavour, and comforting butter, than their English counterparts.

How can I make my cakes firmer? ›

You can try any of the following: adding a 1 oz. package of pudding (any flavor that complements the cake's flavor profile), adding 1-2 egg yolks (along with the eggs called for on the box), or substituting milk for the water called for on the box.

Should Welsh Cakes be toasted? ›

Cakes may be eaten straight from the package however most people prefer them warmed. Warming takes 8-10 seconds for one cake in a 1500W microwave, 10-12 seconds for a whole pack. If heating in an oven, 2-3 mins @ 275 will usually do. Some folks tell us they toast the cakes and we like that too.

What is the slang for welsh cake? ›

They have gone by a few different names since their inception including their Welsh language names “cage bach” or "picau ar y maen" but also they are known as "Griddle Cakes", "Welsh Tea Cakes" and "Welsh Miner Cakes".

What is the difference between Eccles cakes and Welsh cakes? ›

What is a Welsh Cake? It's like a cross between a pancake, cookie, or a scone but they are nothing like it. These are somewhat similar in appearance to Eccles Cakes but Welsh Cakes are a bit flatter than an Eccles Cake and unlike an Eccles Cake, Welsh Cakes are not filled.

What is the best Welsh cake brand? ›

Tan Y Castell Welshcakes have won numerous awards and are recognised for their taste and quality, resulting in them now being one of the best-selling Welsh cakes on the market. They are soft, moist and crammed with the finest vine fruits.

What is the most traditional Welsh dish? ›

Cawl. Dating back to the 14th century, cawl, also known as 'lobscows' in areas of North Wales, is a hearty stew of lamb and seasonal vegetables that is considered to be the national dish of Wales.

What is the most popular dessert in Wales? ›

Picau ar y maen — also known as Welsh cakes, Welsh miner cakes, pice bach, cacennau cri, and teisennau gradell — are thick-ish, round tea cakes traditionally made on a baking stone or griddle, studded with dried fruit, possibly sprinkled in caster sugar, served warm or cold, butter and jam optional.

What is the quintessential Welsh food? ›

Staple fruits of the land include oats, barley, wheat and vegetables, including the famous Welsh leek – an enduring symbol of Wales and found in traditional dishes, such as Glamorgan sausage and the hearty broth known simply as cawl. Nothing showcases the Welsh tradition of simple wholesome fare more than cawl.

What is another name for Welsh cakes? ›

Welsh Cakes or Pice ar y maen are a Welsh teatime treat. The recipe has been passed down through generations and is still as popular as ever. In Wales welsh cakes are also known as griddle cakes or bakestones because they are traditionally cooked on a bakestone (Welsh: maen, lit. 'stone' or Welsh: planc, lit.

What is Welsh biscuit called? ›

Handmade Aberffraw Biscuits - Traditional Welsh treats – A Welsh Secret.

What do they call scones in England? ›

A Biscuit (U.S.) Is a Scone (U.K.)

Both baked goodies use flour, fat, liquid and a leavening agent. The main differences are that scones tend to have less butter (because you'll add butter to it when you eating it — or else, clotted cream or jam) while American biscuits tend to have more butter and light layers.

Why is my cake turning hard? ›

If your cake is hard, the problem probably lies in the beating. The butter must be beaten well in the early stages to give the mixture enough air for a light and fluffy texture. To achieve this the butter must be lukewarm and therefore not too hard.

How do you fix a dry hard cake? ›

The 4 Best Ways to Fix a Dry Cake
  1. Brush the cake with a simple syrup glaze.
  2. Soak your cake in milk or cream.
  3. Add frosting.
  4. Fill your cake with mousse or jam.
May 14, 2023

Why do biscuits go soft and cakes go hard? ›

Biscuits are essentially dried cakes, so absorb ambient moisture. Cakes are much more moist, so evaporate water to the surrounding air. Just eat and enjoy. Biscuits start out with a very low moisture content of between 1 and 3 per cent, depending on the type, whereas this is around 15 to 30 per cent for cakes.

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