Rock Buns

Rock Buns are the easiest of cakes and great for tea or lunch boxes. Ideal for children to make – it’s just weighing, mixing and dropping onto a baking sheet before cooking.

Rock Buns

Rock Buns were one of the first cakes I made on my own as a child. The name comes from their appearance, although I’m afraid some of my early efforts were probably quite rock-like in texture.

My long-suffering father was always happy to try the latest offering when he came home. He always pronounced them Delicious!, for which I am ever grateful. It would have been so easy to curb my enthusiasm for baking at that age (about 7). Mind you, he said the same about my brother’s jam tarts, which were often grey in appearance and sadly lacking in jam.

Kids in the Kitchen

This recipe is suitable for children to make. Smaller children may need supervision. Older ones or confident cooks may not, but it’s worth reading 5 tips to take the stress out of cooking and baking to help get organised before you begin.

Oven

Teaching children to know how to safely and confidently use an oven gives them a great skill. Make sure your oven gloves aren’t threadbare and that your child can hold the baking tray safely whilst wearing the glove(s).

What Can Go Wrong?

Rock Buns are quite robust cakes. the main problems are:

• Not mixing the dough well enough – The butter needs to be rubbed into the flour well for perfect Rock Buns, but if not, they’ll still be delicious
• Adding too much liquid – The recipe uses a large egg is yours are larger or smaller than this, adjust the amount of milk slightly
• Overcooking – This could make your buns too dry.

Having said all that, these little cakes tend to turn out fine and any small things that go wrong are great ways to learn how to cook better.

HELPFUL TOOLS

• Magic Liner or a silicone baking mat – both reduce the washing up as they go into the dishwasher. You don’t have to grease them either as they’re totally non-stick
• Lemon zester – This makes gathering that zest so easy – and it’s finger-friendly!

IF YOU LIKE THIS..

Why don’t you try:

Cherry Buns

Cherry Buns are fun and easy to make with kids. Great for a family tea or party.

Butterfly Cakes

Butterfly Cakes are easy to make and fun to assemble. Great for kids to make for tea.

Jammy Buns

Easy recipe for jammy buns. Ideal for baking with children and for birthday parties. Essentially fairy cakes with a jammy surprise in the middle.

Print Recipe

Rock Buns

Rock buns are quick and easy to make and delicious to eat 30 minutes later. They're an ideal first bake for children.

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time15 mins

Total Time30 mins

Course: Teatime

Cuisine: British

Keyword: cooking with children, easy, Quick, Teatime treat

Servings: 16 buns

Author: [email protected] Cooks

Ingredients

• 100 g butter, at room temperature
• 250 g self-raising flour
• 125 g caster sugar
• ½ teaspoon mixed spice (2.5ml)
• 1 lemon, zested
• 100 g currants
• 30 g candied peel, chopped
• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon milk (15ml)

Equipment

2 baking sheets

Magic Liner

or

Silicone baking mats

or

Baking parchment to line the trays

Instructions

Preparation:

• Preheat the oven to 220°C/ 200°C fan/ gas mark 7/ 425°F
• Grease the baking trays if you aren’t using a liner, otherwise put the liners on the trays
• Zest the lemon.

For the Rock Buns – all-in-one method:

• Put all the ingredients except the dried fruit into a large bowl or food processor. Process or beat vigorously until thoroughly combined and smooth

  (Butter, flour, sugar, spice, lemon zest, egg, milk)
• Add the dried fruit and stir in with a spoon or fork
• Put the mixture in small heaps onto the baking trays. A teaspoongul is about right
• Cook for 12-15 minutes until brown on top
• Remove from the oven and leave on the tray for 5 minutes. Move the Rock Buns to a wire cooling rack until ready to eat

For the Rock Buns – all-in-one method:

• Put the butter and flour in a large bowl and rub the butter into the flour until all the butter is mixed in
• To rub in, have your palms up and move your thumbs over fingers from the little fingers inwards

  The mixture will resemble breadcrumbs when you’ve finished
• Add the caster sugar, spice, lemon zest, currants and peel to the flour and butter mixture and stir in well
• Beat the egg with a fork in a basin. Add the milk and beat again
• Add this mixture to the dry ingredients and mix to a dough, which will be fairly firm

  Use your hands or the fork
• Using a teaspoon put the mixture in small heaps onto the baking trays. A heaped teaspoon is about right
• Cook for 12-15 minutes until brown on top
• Remove from the oven and leave on the tray for 5 minutes. Move the Rock Buns to a wire cooling rack until ready to eat

Notes

Utensils you will need if making by hand:

• Large bowl
• Small basin
• Teaspoon
• Fork
• Grater or lemon zester
• 2 baking trays with liners or use butter to grease them
• Weighing scales
• Measuring spoons (teaspoon and tablespoon)

Storage:

Rock buns will keep up to a week in an airtight container in the fridge, but are best eaten within 3-4 days.