APPLE ROCK-CAKES low-sugar, frugal, wonderfully seasonal

Wonderfully spicy frugal little treats low in sugar and packed with fresh apple bits..

updated 9/23

Low-sugar Apple Rockcakes: Crunchy on the outside; fluffy within
'Really yum! Great combo of fruit & spices'. Taster

This recipe came about when a moment of inattention left 67 with a mix heavy on flour and too little fat.  

No one can afford to throw that kind of mistake away and the batter was turned into rockcakes instead.  (The Cost of Living crisis makes us resourceful cooks!). 

The rockcakes- a cross between biscuits and scones - have a lovely texture.  Fragrant with autumn spices, chunky with fresh apple bits, with just a dribble of glaze, they are a delight.  

Give it a go; fresh English apples are plentiful at the moment and increasing numbers are unwaxed.

Cost: £1.75'ish (2023)

Makes: 15 medium to small

Ingredients:

195gm/6.8 oz plain flour.  

  OR 120gm/4.2oz plain flour + 72gm/2.5oz wholemeal  (for  fibre)

1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

2.5-3 tablespoons brown sugar (depends on the household's sugar addiction)

Pinch salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg (opt)

          1/2 tsp mixed spice

       

57gm/2oz cold butter, in small dice

       2 small apples, pref unwaxed, cored and cut in raison-sized pieces

1/4 cup + 2 tbsp milk 

2/3 tsp vanilla

1 small egg

Topping 

Either melted white chocolate (lower sugar)

OR a glaze of milk or water and icing sugar:

1/3 cup icing sugar

1 tbsp milk or water

1. Mix until a thick but flowing glaze forms.  (For a thinner glaze, add more liquid, in 1/4 tsp increments)

2. Drizzle about 1/3 tsp glaze, from a height, over each rock cake 

 

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 190c/400f (air fryer instructions, see tips)
2. Mix flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, & chosen spices in a large bowl
3. Add butter; rub into flour with fingertips until butter is size of peas 
4. Whisk milk, vanilla & eggs in a jug 
5. Mix chopped apple into the flour mixture, distributing evenly
6. Pour milk and eggs into flour; mix well with a wooden spoon - it will be thick and a little unwieldy
7. Using a small ice cream scoop or tablespoon, drop  dough onto a lined baking sheet, leaving a gap in between
8. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until golden
9. When cold, drizzle with a milk/icing sugar glaze OR melted white chocolate 
10. Keeps well in an air-tight tin for a few days

Comment:  

'Really yum; I love the crunchy outside and the soft inside.  The spices and apple with it make a really good combination.' Political Agent 

Tips: 

• Air Fryer: bake at 180C/350 11-12 mins
• Pomona Greengrocers opposite Belsize Park station sell kilo bags of small unwaxed apples for £1.99.

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This recipe has been developed by B  Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and may not be reproduced, in any form, without the author's written permission