Lardy Cake
Lardy cake is a traditional English enriched bread dough layered with lard, sugar, dried fruit, and spices, then folded and baked until the sugar caramelizes into a sticky glaze on the base. It comes from the southern counties of England and was historically made as a way to use up bread dough. The full recipe, including rising time, takes around 3 hours.
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Rolling pin
- Baking dish
- Pastry brush
Ingredients
Dough
- 3 cups All-purpose flour for best results, use unbleached flour
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 0.5 cup Granulated sugar
- 2.25 teaspoons Active dry yeast ensure it's fresh for best rise
- 1 cup Warm water (around 110°F or 43°C)
- 0.25 cup Lard plus extra for greasing
Filling and Topping
- 0.5 cup Currants
- 0.5 cup Raisins use a mix of golden and dark for variety
- 0.25 cup Brown sugar
- 0.5 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon Milk for glazing
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, and sugar. Dissolve the yeast in warm water, let it sit for 5 minutes, then add to the dry ingredients. Knead to form a smooth, elastic dough, about 10-15 minutes.
- First Rise: Lightly grease a bowl with lard, place the dough inside, and cover. Let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
- Roll and Layer: Roll out the dough on a floured surface into a rectangle about 1/2 inch thick. Spread a portion of lard over the surface, sprinkle with currants, raisins, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
- Fold and Second Rise: Fold over the edges to enclose the filling, re-roll, and fold again. Place back in the greased baking dish, cover, and let rise for another 30 minutes.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Brush the top of the dough with milk, then bake for 45 minutes or until golden brown. A skewer should come out clean when it's ready.
Notes
- Ensure the lard is at room temperature for easy spreading.
- You can substitute with butter for a lighter version. Add a touch of orange zest for an aromatic twist.
Nutrition
Calories: 302kcalCarbohydrates: 70gProtein: 6gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 0.2mgSodium: 303mgPotassium: 218mgFiber: 3gSugar: 25gVitamin A: 66IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 31mgIron: 3mg
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