When the lovely people at the Tate & Lyle sugar company asked me to sample some of their sugars from their 100% Fairtrade range, I knew just want I wanted to make: eccles cakes. You know me, I get obsessed. Once I tried those amazing treats at Neal’s Yard Dairy I wanted to try making my own. I made mine in miniature. Cute no? A few of these and a nice cup of tea… bliss.
Eccles cakes don’t really exist much outside of the UK, so some of you may be a bit curious about them. The eccles cake is an old English baked good that dates back to the late 1700’s in the town of Eccles (hence the name). It is a small round cake filled with raisins or currants and spices. Sometimes eccles cakes are actually referred to as “dead fly pies” because of the dark concoction on the inside. Well, if only a yucky thought like that really could put me off my food, I might be a few pounds thinner. Alas, such is not the case. Call these little goodies what you will, I’m still going to eat them. As for the three notches in the top, traditionally, these are made to represent the holy trinity.
Warning: Allow your eccles cakes to cool before you eat them. These things can be lethal: think McDonalds Hot Apple Pie.
Eccles Cake Minis:
- 2 sheets of ready rolled puff pastry
- zest of one orange
- zest of one lemon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon all spice
- 250 grams currants
- 120 grams of caster sugar, plus more for topping
- 1 egg white
Place sugar in a saucepan until it starts to melt. Once it starts to colour, add the butter, orange and lemon zest, spices, and currants. Combine thoroughly.
While the mixture is cooling, cut out some circles for your eccles cakes. You can make them any size, but I chose to make mine small. You will need 2 circles per cake.
Place about a teaspoon of the mixture into the centre of every other circle. Top with another piece of puff pastry, and crimp the two pieces of pastry together. Mold into a patty shape.
Brush the top of each cake with egg white, and sprinkle them with lots of sugar (Fairtraide of course!). Now you can score the top.
I baked these in the oven for about 15 minutes in a 200 degree oven, but baking times will vary according to size, so watch them carefully.
These do sound delicious although now I keep thinking “dead flies pies,” which is a little upsetting. But like you, I’d still eat ‘em.
Eccles cakes, Darliiink HH, bring back such wonderful childhood memories! And what a delicious recipe too!
XOXO LOLA:)
PS Helped myself to a couple when your back was turned chatting with the divine Mr P!! Sorry about all the crumbs…***Hugs***
I love Eccles cakes, didn’t know where they got the name though. We have two places so close to my house where I can get these. Both were great! One was at the 4 & 20 Pasty Company that I posted on my site. I am so happy to get your recipe, and want to try them ASAP! They always reminded me of something my grandma used to make, I don’t know what she called them, I’ll have to ask my mom!
You get easily obsessed with the good stuff.
)
“Dead fly pies” sound like a cool name for these babies..very much like German Bienenstich (Bee sting cake)…which is dangerously delicious.
Angie
what a beautiful ingredients!!!! It must have tasted amazing!!!
such a dangerous thing to be asked to sample sugars….
oooh…,pass me some of those dead fly pies! These are adorable. And how awesome about the free sugar! Have a good weekend, daaahling
These look amazing. Not my personal favourite but I’d certainly try one of yours. They look too good to eat! Am hoping to visit Neal’s Yard next weekend – will let you know what I think
Fly Pie! Takes me right back to my school days.Though these look far more delectable.
Is Neals Yard Dairy the same company which produce the Neals Yard Remedies Beauty Products?
Fabulous! x
Oh these are just delightful…I have never had them, but I would like to:)
I love your photo of the eccles cakes. It’s just so girly and they look so dainty and delicate! You did a beautiful job recreating them at home:-)
Aw, I would love to have these at a tea party. With little shortbread cookies, tea sandwiches, and English tea. So sweet!
Those little cakes are just what I need right now!
Looks great!
Too bad that these goodies do not exist outside UK, but so good that we can access your recipe here, thanks for sharing.
Well done on making your own Eccles cakes – I had never heard of them before I moved to the UK but have to say they go brilliantly with cheese – as you experienced at Neals Yard Dairy!
These little beauties are new to me — they look amazing though, and I love that spicy filling! Hope you have a fabulous weekend, daaahling!
Ha ha, I like the alternate name because we often call sultanas “flies” in our house. You made some adorable cakes HH, I am SO going to try these, but I might have to substitute dates for the “flies”
These mini citrus cakes sound awesome! OK you, Valerie (A Canadian Foodie) and Nigella (Not Quite Nigella) are all ladies I respect so much. You go to the finest restaurants & hotels & I LOVE learning all about the experiences!! xo
You’ve got me! I am in! This is on my list. I have copied the link and the recipe. YUMMMMMM (it is really good with CHEEEEEEEEESE tooo)
You’re forever making me want to bake!
I don’t know if I have ever tried one these! They do look rather divine though!
What gorgeous little treats! How kind you are to give us a recipe after making us drool over those last ones! And these don’t seem complicated like I initially thought. Yours are so perfect. xoxo
Oh my these look delicious! As a fan of Mickey D’s apple pies (in a previous life) I am sure I could easily become addicted to these.
I would love to try these, too bad you can’t mail me over your leftovers!!
I love anything wrapped in Puff Pastry….Have you ever had a Mc Donald’s pumpkin pie? They are REALLY good.
These look amazing! I can’t believe they aren’t popular here too. Somebody had better fix that!
I think they would be nice for Thanksgiving time.
Have never had this…thinking I need to!
Yep. You were right. I WAS curious about what an Eccles Cake was. Not even sure if it is pronounce ECKels or Eeeeckles. lol I want to try making them now…but maybe with a peach middle….hmmmm…
I’ve never seen these before!
This is a scrumptious pastry! It reminds me of Agatha Christie novels and I want some with a very good cup of tea!
I never had this eccles cakes…they sure look so tasty and yummie…would love to try it
What a beautiful little pastry! I am in love. The history behind them is just divine. Thanks for the post, recipe and inspiration.
My grandmother used to make raisin pie, and I loved it. This sounds similar but better with citrus zest. I’d like one now, please!
Yum – this looks delicious!! You have tempted me to try and Eccles cake once again. My boss Nadia blogged about an atrocious commercial Eccles cake she ate while on a road trip, and it really put me off them, but perhaps it was just a case of it being a gross mass-produced item.
I have never heard of these, but they look downright irresistible, what with the flaky pastry and crunchy sugar top. Count me in as a new fan, for sure.
Ooooo….I’m liking this. I’ve bookmarked it for future baking that I shall be doing soon.
Thanks for the warning – they look so damn delicious I would have surely burned my tongue eating them straight from the oven.
Too cool “dead fly pies” ! I think not for the dark concoction but because of its taste and looks it will fly into our mouth at no times , who cares it is dead or alive! A Miss- interpretation! haha!
Excellent recipe HH!
I love eccles cakes and this miniature variation is so adorable! I don’t think I would be able to eat just one
Not only is it nice to read about some dessert I knew nothing about…it is even better to read when you’re baking ;o) You do a great job!
These cakes look wonderful. Bookmarked for my international recipe try-outs ;o)
Ciao for now,
Claudia
Vacumning? Surely you have more fabulous things to do!
see, you do get stuff! you get sugar :O I’ve never been offered sugar before.
I’ve never heard of theses before, but they do look addicting.
What beauties! And the fairtrade sugar sounds good too
I’ve never made Eccles Cakes but I’ve never been put off by their filling either, clearly I need to give them a go soon.
Hey……… this looks like an addictive little cake….n so easy to make.
dead fly pie would be a name used when i want it all for myself ….:)
Nice to be here. Have read about this recipe but never tried it. It looks a perfect dessert to try soon.
I’m so glad I found these! They remind me somewhat of a cookie that once was available here in the U.S.but is no longer produced. They were called golden raisin biscuits, but we knew them as “fly cookies.” I loved these cookies, and really miss them. I’m going to try these soon! Thanks!
Yours look amazing & mighty tasty, my dear!
MMMMMMMMMMM,.. another must try of yours truly!
Fab!
Wonderful recipe and lovely picture dear!
Cheers~