A family baking blog. Classic Scottish and UK recipes for the whole family.
These days I’m very firmly an Edinburgh lass, even appearing in the local paper! But I actually grew up down the coast a little in North Berwick, where Granny still lives today. As well as Granny (and Papa!), North Berwick is also home to Tantallon Castle, a mighty fortress that dates right back to the 1300’s and is the place of which these lovely little Tantallon Cakes get their name.
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I can still clearly remember my first encounter with Golden Syrup. I’d seen the infamous tin in Granny’s baking cupboard but it wasn’t until we first tried baking what would become my favourite cookie recipe that I really tasted this gold elixir. It’s a staple in British baking and most definitely the star ingredient of this Golden Syrup Cake.
It was actually one of our lovely Twitter followers who’d requested this recipe and of course, Granny had her go-to Rock Bun recipe right on cue! I’m pretty sure prior to this, the last time I made Rock Buns was in my High School Home Economics class and I’m pretty sure they were more rock than they were bun.
Confession time… I’m a sugar addict. It will be of no surprise to those around me to be fair! From the moment I wake up to the moment I go to bed, I’m looking for my next sugar hit. It’s certainly not ideal but growing up in Scotland with sweet treats like Scottish Tablet, it’s really unavoidable.
Another day and another classic recipe. When it comes to baking, it’s easy to get swept up in the many recipes of the internet but I’m slowly learning that often, these recipes aren’t all that they’re cracked up to be. Melting Moments biscuits however are a recipe that I promise you’ll love!
Happy Hogmany, folks!
For those of you outwith Scotland, Hogmanay is our version of New Years. The origins of the term ‘Hogmanay’ is at best uncertain but it isn’t without it’s traditions. Torch-light processions, singing Auld Lang Syne, street parties and of course first-footing; the custom of being the first visitor in a home after the bells at midnight. And for good luck your first-footer should be a tall, dark, handsome stranger, carrying some sort of gift. So if you’re planning on doing some first-footing yourself then this Black Bun is just the gift you need.Read More
Another day, another tray bake. I know I always say tray bakes are super easy but this one really does take the biscuit! And if we’re being completely honest, I’ve not felt myself recently and as such the desire to bake has just not been there. So I needed something super simple just like Tiffin to get back into my baking routine.Read More
What do you do after you go strawberry picking on one of the few sunny days of the year? Bake, of course! Last weekend we decided to take the boys to one of the local Strawberry farms and to say they enjoyed themselves was an understatement! D. (our strawberry obsessed 2 year old) in particular looked like he’d died and gone to heaven. And as much as I too love strawberries on their own, I love them even more when sandwiched with cream between shortbread, à la Strawberry Shortcakes!Read More
There’s something about us Scots and our love of questionable foods. Haggis is the obvious one (love it), Lorne sausage, macaroni pies, deep-fried Mars Bar and even Irn Bru cupcakes – Scotland is famed for it’s love of “unique” foods. And it could only be the Scots who would come up with a pet-name such as Fly Cemetery for a sweet little pastry treat like Fruit Slice.
We’re big fans of oats in our house. From the daily porridge requests each morning, too endlessly trying to perfect flapjack (which I will finally share when I eventually do!), we just can’t get enough of those little super-grains. If there’s one oat classic that always feels a little bit special to me, it is Oatcakes.