These English rock cakes are crisp on the outside and soft and fluffy in the middle. Naturally sweetened with raisins and made without any refined white sugar, they’re a wholesome little treat that little ones of all ages can enjoy.
English rock cakes, also known as rock buns, are very similar to scones but with a more rustic, craggy appearance and no need for shaping. They’re crisp on the outside, wonderfully soft in the middle, and have a tender crumb rather than the flaky texture of a traditional scone.
The dough is made with simple pantry staples like flour, butter, and eggs. Traditionally, rock cakes are filled with dried fruit, although modern versions often include chocolate chips instead.
One of the things I love most about rock cakes is how quick and easy they are to make. You simply rub the butter into the flour with your fingertips, mix in the remaining ingredients, and scoop portions of dough onto a baking tray. As they bake, they naturally develop their signature rocky, rugged appearance.
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👩🏻🍳 Why you should try my recipe
- Quick and easy, ready in about 30 minutes.
- Made with just 7 ingredients.
- No food processor required, just one bowl to mix the ingredients.
- Made without white refined sugar so the whole family can enjoy them.
🥘 Ingredients
To make these English rock cakes (or rock buns), we are going to use all-purpose flour, egg, unsalted butter, applesauce, baking powder, vanilla and raisins.
- Flour: I’m using all-purpose flour and baking powder, but you can also use self-rising flour if it isn’t too high in salt. I’ve found that some brands contain quite a bit of salt, making them better suited for savory recipes than for baking.
- Applesauce: You could use store-bought unsweetened applesauce or you could make your own homemade applesauce.
- Butter: Just like when making scones, the butter should be cold so it incorporates properly into the flour.
- Vanilla: You could use vanilla paste or vanilla extract. Whatever you have available at home.
For full quantities and to print the recipe, see the recipe card below.
🔪 Step-by-step Instructions
So get your ingredients ready and let's get started!
01. All you need is a bowl to mix everything together. I start by adding the flour and baking powder to the bowl. Then I cut the cold butter into cubes and start rubbing it with the flour using my fingertips. After all the butter is rubbed, we should have a coarse, sandy texture.
02. Next I add the raisins and mix everything using a spatula.
03. In a small bowl, I mix the egg with the applesauce and vanilla.
04. Then, I pour it into the bowl with the dry ingredients. With my spatula or just using my hands, I combine everything until I have a slightly sticky dough.
05. This recipe makes 9–12 rock cakes, depending on their size. There’s no need to shape them, simply scoop portions of the dough onto a lined baking tray for their classic rustic look. They will spread slightly as they bake, so be sure to leave some space between them on the baking tray.
06. It takes about 20–25 minutes for the rock cakes to bake. They’re ready when the tops are golden brown. Let them cool on the baking tray for 4–5 minutes before transferring them, as they can easily break apart while still very hot.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
English rock cakes make a lovely little treat to enjoy in the morning or afternoon. They’re also easy to pack for days out, trips to the park, or as a snack for school.
🧰 Storage
You can store the rock buns in an airtight container at room temperature and enjoy them within 3–4 days.
They also freeze well for up to 2 months. Place them in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container, then thaw overnight at room temperature before serving.
❓ FAQ
Yes, you could replace the raisins with a third cup of chocolate chips.
If you tried my sugar-free English rock cakes or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!
📋 Recipe
English Rock Cakes (No Sugar)
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour (275gr)
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ cup unsalted butter cold
- ½ cup raisins (100gr)
- ⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place the flour and baking powder in a bowl. Add the cold butter cut into cubes.
- Rub the butter with the flour using your fingertips. We are looking for a sandy texture after all the butter is rubbed.
- Add the raisins and mix well.
- Mix the egg, applesauce and vanilla together. Add them to the bowl with the dry ingredients. Incorporate using a spatula or your hands.
- Using a scoop or spoon, add each rock cake on a lined baking tray leaving 2-3 fingerspace between them.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes in a preheated oven to 350℉ / 180℃.
Nutrition
🥣 More to try
If you liked my English rock cakes or rock buns, you should try some of these recipes too:
Julia Droulia
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