Old School Rock Buns

For some reason I had a craving for rock buns today and so rooted out this recipe. I found it with H’s old school ones. They really are old school, I can remember using virtually the same recipe myself when I was at school.

They are not the most beautiful buns, not very elegant or luxurious looking. Especially compared to some of the exotic treats that arrived in a parcel from A's family in Iran. But they are nice and homely and I love them. The recipe is for ten buns. I made nine overly generous ones and wolfed a third of them very quickly. I can’t really explain why I find them so more-ish; probably it’s another childhood throwback. Memories of making them with my sisters and mum on rainy Saturday mornings. Standing on the kitchen stool wrapped in an enormous apron, rainwater drumming down the windowpanes...getting flour everywhere, even my hair...Happy days.

To make ten rock buns you will need:

• 200g/8oz of Self Raising Flour
• A pinch of salt
• 75g/3oz butter (or substitute)
• 75g/30z dried fruit
• One egg
• One to two tablespoons of water

Method:

1. Light the oven, gas mark 7, 220c. Place the shelf just above the centre. Grease a baking sheet.
2. Sieve the flour and salt into the bowl and rub in the butter.
3. Add the sugar and dried fruit and combine all the ingredients.
4. Beat the eggs lightly and add it to the mixture. If necessary add the water. The mixture should be firm enough to stand in heaps.
5. Divide into ten and place in rough heaps on the baking sheet and bake for about fifteen minutes until firm and golden brown and then put to cool on a wire tray.

You can also make raspberry buns with the recipe by leaving out the fruit and making a little well in the centre of each one and filling them with raspberry jam....mmm....

Alternatively you could make cherry, chocolate chip, date or coconut buns by substituting the two ounces of dried fruit with the appropriate ingredient. mm..mm...

I even found an image of my old primary school in Manchester..I'd forgotten how cute it was.....


This post is linked to The Kitchen Maid's bloghop Sweet Sweet Friday that you can see here.

Do you have an end of week sweet treat? Add it here to spread the sweetness of Fridays....