Cardamom Patty Cakes
13
A patty cake is a miniature cake, essentially a cupcake but more importantly a single individual serve of cake. The term made famous by the poem "Pat-A-Cake", patty cake is often used in Australian English. I am quite convinced that the name caught on from the overuse of terms like patty pans and patty cases. Nevertheless, it is a sweet quirky name for a little cake.
I love vintage illustrations especially in poems and stories that talk about food. The Pat-A-Cake poem illustrations always show bakers and children cupping their hands together and pressing palms to mimic patting-a-cake, kind of like making mud pies. Taking inspirating from those illustrations I have made little cupcakes peppered with ground cardamom, but baked in round gem scone molds without wrappers. When baked, they come out like little fat cake discs with a gorgeous crust and melt-in-your-mouth cakey middle. They are perfect to pop in your mouth and need just a hint of icing sugar dusted on top to make them really special.
It is always fascinating to find out the terms used for similar food in different countries. Cupcakes, fairy cakes, patty cakes … do little cakes have a special name in your part of the world?
CARDAMOM PATTY CAKES
Fragrant little mini cakes are baked in a gem scone pan and topped with icing sugar for a cardamom infused afternoon treat.
Makes – Approximately 30
Ingredients
3/4 cup raw sugar
125g butter, melted and cooled
a pinch of salt
1/2 teaspoon cardamom (ground)
2 eggs
1 cup milk
2 cups self-raising flour
icing sugar to dust
Method
Preheat oven to 180C (350F). Grease a gem scone pan with butter. Dust with flour and set aside.
In a bowl beat eggs, sugar, butter, cardamom and salt until light and creamy. Add flour and milk. Beat for a couple of minutes until fluffy and well combined.
Spoon batter into prepared molds until 2/3rds full (each). Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 14 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove and gently loosen the cakes with a butter knife. Turn on to a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with icing sugar and serve.
My Notes
You can bake the batter into little cupcakes or a full sized cake topped with nuts by adjusting the baking times.
To make nutella or jam stuffed patty cakes, spoon some batter into the mold. Add a teaspoon of the filling, top with more batter and bake. Make sure each mold is only 2/3rds full.
These little patty cakes look great! I love cardamom in baked treats and the way you describe these little cakes makes my mouth water! My family would love these for Thanksgiving!
Julia {The Roasted Root}´s last [type] ..Sicilian Meatball Soup with Cabbage
Lovely little cakes! Cardamom is a wonderful spice.
Cheers,
Rosa
Oh! How pretty! I want one gem scone pan too
chinmayie @ love food eat´s last [type] ..Red Cabbage Beet & Bean Salad
Beautiful little cakes, I love the dusting of sugar!
Laura (Tutti Dolci)´s last [type] ..pumpkin pie bars
Beautiful cakes and photos!
What gorgeous little cakes Sneh! I used to love patty cakes growing up, but haven’t made them in so long. Thanks for the reminder
Jennifer (Delicieux)´s last [type] ..Gluten free Banana Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
What a great way to bring an old nursery rhyme to life!
I love cardamom and these little cakes would make me smile. I don’t think I’ve ever made anything called a patty cake but I’ve certainly heard about them. I’m definitely going to give them a try.
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef´s last [type] ..CADA Breakfast
Fairy cakes, cupcakes and muffins are more or less the same thing and then it depends how you decorate the top. I haven’t heard the term patty cake though.
suzanne Perazzini´s last [type] ..Thai Chicken Tartlettes
Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake I had no idea there are little cakes that go with the nursery rhyme my daughter just learned.
SO pretty, I should make some for her and eat between singing breaks
Roxana | Roxana’s Home Baking´s last [type] ..Pumpkin Eggnog Chocolate Cupcakes with Pumpkin Cream Cheese Frosting
Such gorgeous little cakes. I do love the use of cardamom.
I have a patty cake pan but have never used it – now I have the perfect recipe. Thank you!
Love the use of floral cardamom in baked goods. Looks so yum!