Gluten-Free Welsh Cakes

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These Gluten-Free Welsh Cakes are golden, buttery, and perfectly spiced. Made on a griddle or cast iron pan, theyโ€™re soft yet slightly crisp on the outside, dotted with currants, and dusted with a sugar crunch. Perfectly simple, cosy and quick to make with a homemade gluten-free flour blend and no xanthan gum.

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Welsh Cakes remind me of our family holidays in Wales where they are always plentiful in all the bakeries. One of my favourite cafes always has them in all kinds of flavours. I was particularly smitten one year with an Easter Welsh Cake which was stuffed with marzipan and chocolate chips.

But to be honest, nothing beats a traditional recipe Welsh Cake with simple currants providing all the add-ins you really need. Pair it with a cup of tea and you are in heaven.

Welsh Cakes are little cakes which date back to the late 19th century. They are simple homely griddle cakes. The kind your grandmother will bake up in huge batches every week and send you off on your way laden with armfuls of hot cakes fresh off the griddle.

They are a quick and easy dough made with flour, butter, a smattering of sugar and currants and brought together with an egg. They are then rolled, cut into rounds, griddled for a few minutes then tossed in a little sugar for a sweet crunch.

Iโ€™ll show you how to make a delicious batch of Welsh Cakes so they are perfect first time and almost as good as your grandmotherโ€™s (nothing beats hers obviously).

Welsh cake split open to see soft and buttery insides.

Why Youโ€™ll Love These Traditional Welsh Cakes

  • They are a classic recipe and indistinguishable from non-gluten-free ones. They retain a soft inner buttery crumb and a golden outside.
  • Perfectly sweetened, not too much sugar, nor too little.
  • Light and fluffy.
  • Quick and easy to make.
  • Another lovely recipe which uses my homemade flour blend โ€“ so if you have a batch mixed up in a tub then your flour choice will be very easy to reach for.
  • No xanthan gum.

Ingredients Needed

Gluten-Free Welsh Cakes ingredients in bowls.

Homemade Flour Blend. This recipe uses my Homemade Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour which works really well for most gluten-free baking recipes (not bread though โ€“ thatโ€™s a totally different ball game). This flour blend is a mix of 4 different flours:

  1. Sweet rice flour (glutinous rice flour).
  2. Sorghum flour.
  3. Oat flour.
  4. Tapioca flour (tapioca starch)

There are plenty of flour substitution tips if you canโ€™t have the oat flour or canโ€™t find sweet rice flour or sorghum flour if you click on the original post for this flour mix. READ MORE >>> Homemade Gluten-Free Flour Blend.

This is the best gluten free flour for cakes as the flour ratio has been carefully tested to ensure the mix between wholegrain flours and starchy flours is balanced. This also means we donโ€™t need to use xanthan gum as the blend is strong enough and produces a soft and tender sponge which can hold together without needing any extra binders.

Baking powder. A leaving agent which helps the Welsh Cakes rise just a little and avoids them being dense. Do check your baking powder is gluten-free before use.

Ground mixed spice. This is a totally optional spice blend. I do like the gentle background note this spice mix gives the Welsh Cakes, you only need a little. If you do want to use it and canโ€™t find it though I have a recipe to make your own mixed spice at home (a lot better than the shop bought mix)

Unsalted butter. We need unsalted so we can control the salt content of the recipe. Make sure it is at room temperature.

Caster sugar. Itโ€™s a fine white baking sugar available in the UK. Regular white granulated sugar can be substituted.

Currants. Just using a handful of currants is the traditional add-in but you can vary it up a bit if youโ€™re feeling adventurous (Iโ€™ve given some ideas below).

Eggs. This recipe uses a medium sized egg, about 60g with shell (50g without shell). These are often classified as large eggs in the US. I recommend weighing your eggs to ensure the correct amount. If your egg is slightly under or over-sized though donโ€™t worry. Under-sized and you can use a little more milk to bind, over-size and you probably wonโ€™t need the extra milk.

Milk. Use whole milk. You only need just a gentle splash to make the dough more cohesive. If your dough comes together in a smooth ball without it though then donโ€™t worry about adding it. Add a teaspoon at a time so your dough isnโ€™t too wet.

Salt. I like to use kosher salt in my baking as it has a round gentle flavour. Using salt in your baked goods lifts and sharpens all the other flavours.

Butter / lard. You will only need a little extra butter (or you can use lard which is very traditional) for cooking your Welsh Cakes. Itโ€™s really just enough to grease the pan as you donโ€™t want your Welsh Cakes to fry.

How To Make Gluten-Free Welsh Cakes

For full recipe instructions go to the recipe card at the end of this post.

Prepare the Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together gluten-free flour, baking powder, mixed spice, sea salt, and sugar.

Dry ingredients for welsh cakes in a mixing bowl then sugar added.

Add the Butter: Slice cold butter into small pieces, then rub it into the flour mixture with your fingertips until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs.

Welsh Cake dough made in a bowl with butter added then fingertips rubbing butter into other dry ingredients.

Mix in the Currants: Add currants to the mixture and combine.

Prepare the Pan: Heat a wide, flat-bottomed frying pan (like a cast iron griddle or skillet) on a low-medium heat while finishing the dough.

Add the Egg and Form the Dough: Crack 1 egg into a small bowl and lightly whisk. Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture, add the egg, and bring the mixture together with your hands to form a smooth dough. If needed, add 2-3 teaspoons of milk for moisture.

Welsh Cake dough in a bowl with currants added then the egg added.
Welsh Cake dough being mixed in a bowl by hand then tipped out onto clean work surface with a little milk added.

Roll and Cut the Dough: Lightly dust a clean work surface with gluten-free flour. Pat out the dough and roll to about 1 cm thick. Use a 6โ€“7 cm pastry cutter to cut out the cakes.

Welsh Cake dough smoothed into a ball, then rolled into a 1cm thick round. 6cm cutter cutting out the welsh cakes.

Cook the Welsh Cakes: Brush the bottom of the pan lightly with butter, then add the Welsh Cakes in batches, about 4-5 at a time. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown.

Finish and Serve: Transfer to a wire rack and sprinkle with caster sugar. Enjoy warm โ€“ theyโ€™re best eaten the day theyโ€™re made!

Welsh Cakes cooking on a cast iron pan until golden on both sides. Then dusted with caster sugar and resting on a cooling rack.

Expert Tips

Cold butter. Use the butter direct from the fridge then slice very thinly (you can use a peeler or do it by hand) into the dough before rubbing in. Cold butter helps achieve the right texture. Rub it in lightly with your fingertips.

Make sure the heat is medium-low to ensure even cooking. You need a gentle heat to avoid it burning on the outside before it is cooked in the middle.

Avoid overworking the dough. This recipe is easy enough for the kids to join in and mine do regularly. Not to cast shade on my 6 year old but his version when he squelches the dough in his lovely little fists does create slightly tougher Welsh Cakes. They are made with a lot of love though! If you are making them yourself you can ensure the dough is not overworked.

Welsh Cakes resting on a wire rack and dusted with caster sugar.

Flavour Variations

Easter Welsh Cakes. I fell in love with this flavour variation on a holiday to Wales a few years ago. Add 25g mixed peel, 30g diced marzipan, 40g chocolate chips and reduce the currants to 50g. They are really stuffed with filling and utterly delicious.

Apple and Cinnamon. Switch out the currants for finely diced dried apple and swap the mixed spice for 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.

Chocolate and Orange. Add 2 tablespoons cocoa powder to the dry ingredients and the zest of 1 orange. Omit the currants and possibly add in a small handful of chocolate chips instead if you like. Youโ€™ll probably need to increase the amount of milk you include at the end to bring the dough together.

Dried fruit. You can use any dried fruit instead of the currants. A particular favourite of mine is dried cranberries. But sultanas, raisins or diced apricots are lovely too.

Citrus zest. Just adding in a little orange and lemon zest (about half an orange, half a lemon) into the classic recipe is just a simple yet lovely way of making it a little different.

Stem ginger. I adore this variation and have made it many times. Just replace the currants with the same amount of diced stem ginger or crystallised ginger. You could also add ยฝ teaspoon of ground ginger for a really fiery kick.

Welsh Cakes resting on a wire rack and dusted with caster sugar.

FAQs

Can you make Welsh Cakes ahead of time?

They are best eaten on the day they are made. Although tradition has it that the cakes would be made the day before by wives and then given to their husbands to take down to the mines the next day with their pockets stuffed full to keep them going during the day. And I have to admit when they are slightly stale on Day 2 they are just as delicious, you just might need a larger gulp of tea to accompany.

How do you store Welsh Cakes?

Store the cakes in an airtight container at room temperature. They will be fine for up to 3 days before they will be a bit too stale to enjoy properly.

Welsh cake split open to see soft and buttery insides.

More Gluten-Free Traditional British Bakes Youโ€™ll Love

This Gluten-Free Scones recipe is made without xanthan gum and still has the lovely soft and fluffy crumb you enjoy. Gorgeous in a classic afternoon tea with clotted cream and strawberry jam.

A Farmhouse Fruit Cake is a light sponge with a slight crumble and generous buttery flavour. Stuffed with your favourite dried fruits like glace cherries, currants and raisins. Itโ€™s a lovely homely weekend bake.

An easy Madeira Cake never lets you down when you are craving cake. This version is made with rice flour and almond flour and has a tight crumb full of rich buttery vanilla flavour.

Have you tried this Gluten-Free Welsh Cakes recipe? If you liked it, please leave a 5-star ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ rating on the recipe card and consider leaving a comment as well! I would love to hear about how your recipe turned out and your feedback also helps other readers✨

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Welsh Cakes resting on a wire rack and dusted with caster sugar.

Gluten-Free Welsh Cakes

These Gluten-Free Welsh Cakes are golden, buttery, and perfectly spiced. Made on a griddle or cast iron pan, theyโ€™re soft yet slightly crisp on the outside, dotted with currants, and dusted with a sugar crunch. Perfectly simple, cosy and quick to make with a homemade gluten-free flour blend and no xanthan gum.
5 from 3 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Afternoon Tea
Cuisine British
Servings 12
Calories 170 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 225 g homemade gluten-free flour blend* - FTL blend
  • 1 ยฝ teaspoons baking powder
  • ยผ teaspoon mixed spice
  • ยผ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 100 g unsalted butter - cold and sliced
  • 70 g caster sugar - plus 3 tablespoons extra for sprinkling
  • 75 g currants
  • 1 egg - medium
  • 2-3 teaspoons whole milk
  • 1 tablespoon butter - or lard for cooking

Instructions
 

  1. Whisk together the gluten-free flour, baking powder, mixed spice, sea salt and sugar in a large mixing bowl.
  2. Add the sliced cold butter and rub into the flour using the tips of your fingertips until the mixture resembles course breadcrumbs.
  3. Mix in the currants.
  4. Bring a wide flat bottomed saucepan (a cast iron skillet is perfect) up to a gentle heat (medium-low) so it can be heating whilst you finish the dough.
  5. Crack the egg into a small bowl and lightly whisk. Then make a well in the centre of the flour mixture and add the egg.
  6. Bring the mixture together with your hands to form a dough, if more moisture is needed add some milk but you shouldnโ€™t need more than 2-3 teaspoons. At some point tip the dough out onto a clean work surface as it easier to mould the dough into a smooth ball this way.
  7. Dust the work surface with a little gluten-free flour. Pat out the dough ball then using a flour-dusted rolling pin, roll out the dough until itโ€™s about 1cm thick and then cut the cakes using a 6/7 cm pastry cutter (my cutter is 68mm). Re-roll the dough scraps out and cut out more Welsh Cakes until all the dough has been used.
  8. Brush the bottom of the pan with a light amount of butter using a silicone pastry brush (you donโ€™t want the Welsh Cakes to fry in a deep pool of butter).
  9. Add the Welsh Cakes to the pan in batches, about 4-5 at a time. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until just turning golden and slightly risen.
  10. Transfer the cooked Welsh Cakes from the pan to a cooling rack and immediately sprinkle with caster sugar on each side.
  11. Welsh Cakes are delicious warm and best eaten on the day they are made.

Notes

Egg. The egg used in this recipe is medium size, 60g each with shell and 50g without shell.
*Gluten-Free Flour Blend. This recipe has been specifically developed to be used with my homemade gluten-free flour blend (a mix of sorghum flour, oat flour, sweet rice flour and tapioca flour). Click here for >>> the recipe for this flour blend where there are suggestions for flour swaps if needed.
I donโ€™t recommend swapping the homemade flour blend for a shop bought flour blend as they will not have the necessary balance of wholegrain flours and starches to make the recipe work.
  • Use the butter direct from the fridge then slice very thinly to achieve the right texture.
  • Make sure the heat is medium-low to ensure even cooking. You need a gentle heat to avoid it burning on the outside before it is cooked in the middle.
  • Avoid overworking the dough. Handle the dough gentle and donโ€™t overwork otherwise youโ€™ll get tough oat cakes.

US customary measurements

These US measurements for the ingredients provided are based on a conversion calculator. This recipe was tested with metric measurements and I recommend using a digital scale to weigh ingredients for the most accurate results. READ MORE >>> Why you should always weigh vs measuring with cupsย 

Nutrition information

Please note that the nutrition information provided below is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients you use. Please seek a professional nutritionistโ€™s advice for further clarification.
The nutrition serving is for 1 Welsh Cake.

Nutrition

Calories: 170kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 2gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 34mgSodium: 66mgPotassium: 108mgFiber: 2gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 263IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 44mgIron: 1mg
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8 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Couldn't make the flour as didn't have the ingredients. Substituted with 1 1/4 cup of Lidl gf flour and 1/4 cup tapioca flour. Worked brilliantly! Light but hold together.

  2. 5 stars
    Just made these for breakfast on the go. Substituted sorghum for oat flour and made then dairy free with vegan block butter and almond milk. Really yummy! Thanks so much.

    1. Thank you for giving feedback on your dairy-free substitutions - that is such helpful information. I'm happy you enjoyed the recipe too!

  3. These Welsh cakes are so tasty. I don't do very well with dried fruit so exchanged the currants with cranberries. The marzipan make cakes have a wonderful almond taste. My Welsh work friends were very impressed. Will make again.

    1. Thanks Karen, I love these Welsh cakes. They are not very traditional but the marzipan is just wonderful!!