Welsh Cookies or Welsh cakes are a beautiful traditional tea cookie that is perfect for the holidays or any time you want a quick and easy treat.
This traditional welsh cookie recipe has been made by so many church fundraisers and events. They are a classic dessert. Is it a pancake? A Cookie? A Cake? Or a hybrid of all three. It is all three and a wonderful addition to your Christmas traditions and cookie trays. If you want even more information about Welsh traditions, check here for more.
If you want to find even more fantastic recipes, for your Christmas table, check this guide.
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What We Love About This Recipe
This cookie was made in Wales. One of the most different things about this cookie is that it is fried. You can use a frying pan or griddle but truly an electric griddle works really well to make these biscuits.
- Quick Batter: Make this batter in only ten minutes. But remember it has to chill in the refrigerator for about an hour.
- Easy Ingredients: All found in pantry or the fridge.
- Family Friendly: They are the perfect treat for the entire family.
- Makes Great Gifts: A fun treat to add to any cookie tray.
Ingredient Notes
- Currants: Dried currants are key. THey are sweet and slightly chewy.
- Flour: All purpose flour.
- Nutmeg: Fresh is best but you can use ground nutmeg.
Variations and Substitutions
- Currants – Raisins are a good replacement.
- Butter- Vegetable shortening can also be great or use a mixture of both.
How to Make Griddle Cookies
These are the basic steps for making stove top cookies. Please refer to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions.
STEP 1: DOUGH
First, in a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, in a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Then add eggs and milk to the mixture and mix until combined. In a separate bowl, combine flour mixture, flour, salt, nutmeg, baking powder and baking soda. Slowly add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until combined, It should be coarse crumbs. Fold in currants.
STEP 2: CHILL DOUGH
Form dough into a disc and wrap in plastic wrap. You need to chill the cookie dough in the refrigerator.
STEP 3: ROLL DOUGH
On a floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Use a cookie cutter or biscuit cutter to cut out your favorite shape.
STEP 4: FRY
Spray a non-stick skillet with cooking spray and cook cakes until golden brown and flip and do the second side. Allow to cool on a wire rack.
Prep and Storage Tips for Welsh Cookies
HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE AHEAD OF TIME
Make these Welsh Cakes up to a week in advance. Truly they are best eaten warm.
HOW TO STORE THIS RECIPE
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.
HOW TO FREEZE THIS RECIPE
Freeze these cookies after they are cool or freeze after a week in a freezer bag or an airtight container. They can be frozen for up to three months.
HOW TO REHEAT THIS RECIPE
Again, these welsh cookies are wonderful warm, therefore reheat in the oven or on the stove top in a frying pan on a medium heat or microwave.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use bakestones,a cast iron skillet or cast iron griddle like grandma did or try using an electric griddle.
Of course, try using mace, cinnamon or even apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice.
Yes, try adjusting the recipe card below to double for parties or fundraisers or half for family game night.
By chilling the cookie dough before baking, the fat in the chilled cookie dough takes longer to melt than room-temperature fat. And the longer the fat remains solid, the less cookies spread.
Truly there is no wrong way to eat a welsh cookie. Plain is great but adding jam and cream like a scone and eating with a fork is a wonderful way to eat these cookies.
The name cookie mean little cakes. It is derived from the Dutch word koekje.
Expert Tips for Making This Recipe
- Add Sugar: Sprinkle a little powdered sugar, caster sugar etc. on the cooked cookies.
- Cold butter: Like a scone, this recipe benefits from cold butter or lard.
- Variation tip: If you have no stand mixer, try an electric mixer or even a pastry blender.
- Dietary consideration tip: Feel free to use a sugar alternative or a gluten-free flour if you need to.
What to Serve with Welsh Cookies
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Welsh Cookies
Ingredients
- 3/4 pound butter
- 1 1/2 cups Sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 eggs, large
- 4 cups flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup dried currants or raisins
Instructions
- In a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs and milk and mix until combined.
- In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt, nutmeg, baking powder and baking soda.
- Slowly add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until combined. Stir in currants.
- Wrap dough and chill for one hour.
- On a floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Use a cookie cutter to cut out your favorite shape.
- Spray a non-stick skillet with cooking spray and fry the cookies until they are golden on both sides.
Expert Tips
- Add Sugar: Sprinkle a little powdered sugar, caster sugar etc. on the cooked cookies.
- Cold butter: Like a scone, this recipe benefits from cold butter or lard.
- Variation tip: If you have no stand mixer, try an electric mixer or even a pastry blender.
- Dietary consideration tip: Feel free to use a sugar alternative or a gluten-free flour if you need to.
Estimated Nutritional Information
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
This recipe is my personal adaption of an ethnic inspired recipe. It is not intended to be an authentic recipe. I’ve recreated this recipe because I enjoy the flavors and I want to encourage my readers to expand their tastes and try new flavor combinations. The recipe, ingredients and processes may have been adapted to make the recipe accessible for the average American. I have provided links to authentic versions of the recipe in the post above. I encourage you to visit these pages and learn more about the traditional version(s) of this recipe.
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Wow! I loved these cookies. I had never had them before but now that I’ve tried them we will be making them again. I love how unique these are!
Such a good looking cookie. I’ll make this for the weekend.
We had these Welsh Cookies last Christmas and it is one of the crowds’ favorites! They can’t get enough of it and they had fun. These cookies are a great way to impress the crowd.
This welsh cookie is amazing. It’so delicious and my family loves them. Highly recommended!
My Grandma is from Wales and has made Welsh Cakes since I was little – one of my favorite treats!! Great post!
Thank you! 🙂 These are such yummy cookies!
I had never heard of Welsh cookies either. Sound pretty good to me. One thing that confused me was when you said “Fry” them. I read and reread it several times. I wouldn’t really call that frying. 😉
Sorry, I was just following the recipe I was given. Just cook them as per the directions 🙂
I’ve never heard of Welsh Cookies, but they sound mighty tasty!