Cakes & Bakes: David’s batter cake

David's batter cake

It was St David’s Day 3 days ago (or as the Welsh say it, Dydd Gŵyl Dewi); so I thought I’d flip through my Welsh Fare cookbook to find a suitable recipe to celebrate the day. I came across something called David’s batter cake; even though I don’t think the dish is named in honour of the saint, I’d like to dedicate it to him!

David's batter cake wet & dry ingredients David's batter cake wet & dry ingredients

The recipe notes explain that it’s called slapan dafydd in Welsh and that this particular version hails from Llanfachraeth in Anglesey.

David's batter cake cooking on a cast iron griddle David's batter cake cooking on a cast iron griddle

It’s one of many versions of Welsh griddle cakes included in the book. Some include lard, some mixed spice, some use eggs, others don’t. The majority of recipes use wheat flour, a couple have oat or barley meal instead. Most versions are small, others (like this one) take up the entire bakestone or griddle pan.

Griddle cake sliced horizontally and buttered

It’s recommended that you split the just-cooked batter cake in half horizontally and slather the two pieces with butter. Justin did this and added some home-made jam to the equation… he heartily endorses this last step!

Click here or on the image below to save the David’s batter cake recipe to Pinterest for later

David's batter cake recipe

David's batter cake

David's batter cake

Welsh Fare, A selection of Traditional Recipes
Course Afternoon tea
Cuisine Welsh

Ingredients
  

  • 285 ml/½ pt warm buttermilk
  • 60 g/2oz butter
  • 285 g/10oz plain flour
  • 85 g/3oz sultanas
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 85 g/3oz sugar
  • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 1 tbsp vinegar

Instructions
 

  • Melt the butter in the warm buttermilk (I melted the butter with a quick zap in the microwave)
  • Put the flour, sultanas and salt in a bowl, gradually pour in the buttermilk mixture and beat well. Leave this mixture to stand for a few hours, if possible
  • When ready to bake the cake, beat the eggs, add the sugar, soda and vinegar and then pour this second mixture into the first one, beating well
  • Pour all the mixture on to a greased, moderately hot bakestone to make one large cake. Bake and turn as for pancakes
  • Then split in half while warm and spread with butter
David's batter cake ingredients
Keyword batter cakes, griddle cakes

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