Welsh cakesIn our house, as you might have gathered, we love any excuse for a bit of baking.

So what better way to celebrate St David's Day on the 1st of March than by whipping up a batch of home-made Welsh cakes?


They're cheap and easy to make, and are delicious fresh from the oven after a hard day at school.

And no, you don't have to be Welsh to eat Welsh Cakes but strictly speaking proper Welsh cakes should really be cooked on a griddle on an open fire, and traditional ingredients for Welsh cakes include raisins, sultanas or currants.

Traditionalists might like to try Delia Smith's recipe for Welsh cakes, but as my lads aren't fans of raisins we love this alternative recipe for chocolate chip Welsh cakes:

Chocolate chip Welsh cakes

450g self raising flour
85g butter
85g sugar
a pinch of salt
1/3 teaspoon cinnamon or nutmeg
1 egg
1 tablespoon of milk
1 packet chocolate chips

Sieve the flour into a large bowl, along with the cinnamon / nutmeg and salt.
Dice the butter into small chunks and rub it into the flour until it resembles breadcrumbs.
Stir in the sugar.
Add the chocolate chips.
Make a well in the centre of the mixture and crack the egg into it. Mix well.
On a floured surface, roll out the dough to a thickness of about 1cm.
Using round 5cm cutters cut out cakes and place them on a greased or lined baking tray.
Bake at around 180°c for about 10 minutes until the cakes turn a light golden brown.

Not very traditional. But very scrumptious.

If you're ever in Wales check out Fabulous Welsh Cakes for everything from dark chocolate and orange Welsh cakes to lime and coconut Welsh cakes!

Enjoy, and Happy St David's Day, when it comes!