Jamaican Rock Cake is a delectable dessert that has been enjoyed by Jamaicans, young and old, for many years.
I know the term ‘rock cake’ might sound like an unpleasant eating experience, but I assure you it’s not. It’s called a ‘rock cake’ because of its rough surface that resembles a rock. My grandmother used to make these all the time when I was a kid, and I was always eager to help.
We would start by combining flour, coconut milk powder, baking powder, and nutmeg, mixing for even distribution. Then, we added margarine and used our fingertips (or a dough blender) to gently rub the margarine into the dry mixture until it resembled fine breadcrumbs. Using a wooden spoon, we then mixed in the dark sugar and raisins that we had soaked overnight.
We combined the beaten egg, water (or milk), and vanilla and created a well in the center of the dough to pour in the liquid mixture. Using two forks, we combined both the dry and wet ingredients, being careful not to overmix.
We dropped spoonfuls of the rock buns onto a greased baking tray and baked them at 180°C/350°F for 26 minutes. Once they were done, we removed them from the oven and placed them on a cooling rack.
Combine flour, coconut milk powder, baking powder and nutmeg and mix for even distribution.
Add margarine and use a dough blender or your finger tips to gently rub the margarine into dry mixture until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
Mix in the dark sugar and soaked raisins using a wooden spoon.
Combine beaten egg, water or milk and vanilla; make a well in the center and pour in the liquid.
Combine the mixture using two forks. Do not over mix!
Drop rock buns by spoonfuls onto a greased baking tray and bake at 180°C/350°F for 26 minutes. Remove from oven and cool on a cooling rack.
Rinse the maraschino cherries and cut each into 4 pieces. Use one piece of cherry to decorate each rock bun.
A mixture of milk powder and water may be used as a milk substitute.
When combining the dry ingredients with the wet ones, mix just until everything is incorporated. Overmixing can make the rock cakes tough.
Add a pinch of ground spices like nutmeg or cinnamon to enhance the flavor profile. These spices complement the sweetness of the rock cakes.
For uniform-sized rock cakes, use a cookie scoop or ice cream scoop to portion out the dough. This makes them all the same size and ensures even baking.
