Betty's Fat Rascals Recipe {Yorkshire Turf Cake}

4.76 from 33 votes

Betty's Fat Rascals Recipe {Yorkshire Turf Cake}

This Betty's Fat Rascals recipe is a must to try with a cup of Yorkshire Tea! It's a delicious cake cross between a fruit scone and rock cake, made with dried fruit, citrus peel, and little faces made of cherries and almonds.

I'll also show you how to make a Christmas Yorkshire fat rascals version with brandy butter.

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Total Time30

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: british

Keyword: christmas, fat rascal, fruit, rock cake, scones

Servings: betty's fat rascals

Calories: 591kcal

Author: Vikkie Lee

Equipment

Ingredients

160 g plain flour (1 cup + 2 tbsp)
160 g self raising flour (1 cup + 2 tbsp)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Pinch sea salt
150 g Butter Cold and diced (10 tablespoon or ⅔ cup)
95 g Caster sugar (½ cup)
160 g Dried mixed fruit (1 cup)
1 lemon zest only
1 orange zest only
2 medium eggs Beaten - hold back half for an egg wash
1-2 tablespoon whole milk Or double cream

To Decorate

60 g Glace cherries (6 whole cherries sliced in half)
20 g Blanched whole almonds (18 whole almonds)

Metric - US Customary

Instructions

Preheat your oven at 180c fan / 200c conventional / Gas mark 6 / 400F.
In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, sieve in the flours and baking powder, then mix.
Then rub the cubed butter in with your fingertips until you have fine breadcrumbs.
OR, using a stand mixer, mix with a paddle on speed 2 for 2-3 minutes.
Stir in the caster sugar, zests, spices, citrus peel and dried fruit, then mix well again. Or you can add chocolate chips instead.
Mix or beat in the egg* until it forms a dough - it is dry and not binding fully, stir in a tablespoon of milk or juice form the orange or lemon.
*Hold some egg back for a egg wash glaze!
Note: it should be a slightly sticky and pliable texture, but not so much that it sticks to your fingers. If so, mix in ½ a teaspoon of plain and self raising flour.
Turn to a lightly dusted silicone baking mat or baking paper and shape into a large round, the cut into 6 wedges.
Roll each wedge into a ball, then space evenly apart on the baking mat or paper.
Slightly flatten with your hands until they're around 6-7cm in width and about 3cm high (or the size of hockey pucks)
Brush each one with any egg left in the bowl you set aside earlier.
Decorate each with 3 blanched almonds as teeth and 1 halved cherry each for eyes.
Note, try not to space the cherries apart too much as they'll separate while baking anyway.
Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden and slightly firm on top.
Remove from the oven and leave to cool for 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
Enjoy either warm or cold and sliced in half with a spread of butter, jam and clotted cream.

Video

Notes

If using a thirsty flour like wholemeal, you may find it necessary to increase your amount of liquid

For my American readers: when shaping your fat rascal cake, make them the size of a hockey puck

If you want an eggwash but are trying to cut down on waste, mix a splash of milk with any leftover beaten egg left behind in your jug or bowl

For a golden crust, only use the egg yolk as a wash as sprinkle with a little sugar

Don't space the cherries and almonds too far apart as they'll separate while baking

If the dough is very sticky and clings to your fingers, mix in ½ teaspoon of plain and self-raising flour, test, and repeat if needed.

Nutrition