A better version of Hagrid's rock cakes, soft and sweet, full of dried fruit and ready within 30 minutes.
HAGRID'S ROCK CAKES
Hagrid's rock cakes are mentioned quite a few times in several of the Harry Potter books but never in a positive manner. For instance, Harry almost broke a tooth once, while biting on one of the gamekeeper's cakes.
Unlike Hagrid's probably over baked rock cakes, my rock cakes are deliciously soft and tender, the only thing they have in common with actual rocks are their looks...
Otherwise just a sweet, soft, somewhat crumbly delight, not only something for the children, but for those grown-ups with a serious sweet tooth as well (I am thinking here of my dear mother-in-law, who could not stop eating these cakes...).
And another great thing about this rock cake recipe: it can be made from scratch and baked within 30 minutes.
WHAT ARE ROCK CAKES?
I have never heard of rock cakes until I read about them in the Harry Potter books for the first time. It took me years and years until I finally baked some myself, but ever since, we bake Hagrid's rock cakes quite often, at least once a year during Christmas time.
They're dead easy to make and the children love to make them themselves. And to eat them, of course.
A rock cake or a rock bun is a traditional British cookie, a cookie so easy to make even a 5-year-old could make it.
There are different recipes for rock cakes out there, but the main ingredients remain more or less the same: flour, butter, egg, spices, and dried fruit. Some versions contain coconut (Jamaica) or oatmeal.
INGREDIENTS FOR ROCK CAKES
Sugar:
- Muscovado sugar, also known as Barbados sugar, is unrefined cane sugar that contains molasses. It has a dense structure, it looks kind of wet, and has a very dark color. The taste is also very particular, something like toffee with a slightly bitter, medicinal aftertaste.
- Muscovado sugar is not easily available everywhere in the world. If you cannot find, just replace it with dark brown sugar.
Dried fruit:
- This time, I used a mixture of sultana, prunes, and apricots.
- Other times I added or substituted something with cranberries and raisins.
- You can use whatever dried fruit you happen to like or have in the pantry.
You will also need:
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Allspice
- Nutmeg
- Unsalted butter
TIPS FOR MAKING ROCK CAKES
- Make sure that the butter is soft when you start mixing the batter for Hagrid's rock cakes. Take it out of the fridge soon enough.
- Larger fruit pieces (like apricots and prunes) should be chopped about the size of the raisins.
There is no need to use a mixer to mix the ingredients, mixing them with the hand or a spoon is super easy and quick. - Place heaps of dough on the baking tray without trying to give the cookies a nice shape. Leave them rough, so that they resemble rocks.
- Leave to cool on the baking tray for about 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack, they are pretty soft and should be allowed to set before moving.
HARRY POTTER ROCK CAKES
This is the last recipe of this Harry Potter series, I hope you enjoyed the recipes. And the end of the series makes me realize this is the end of another month, of November, that means almost the end of the year.
I know this is such a cliche, but where did this year go? Time flies way too fast and getting older makes it fly even faster. The kids feel like the time stretches forever from August, when they both have their birthdays, to Christmas, when it is present time again. For me, it is just like: how can it get from hot summer to bitter cold in such a short time...
But enough depressing thoughts for one morning, the bright side of being almost December is Christmas indeed, the best time of the year. I love Christmas, I've always done, it is the one thing that makes winter bearable.
I am enjoying the Advent Sundays and I cannot wait for those pre-Christmas days full of preparations and anticipation, the joy of the kids on the morning of the Christmas Eve, their impatience during the Christmas Eve dinner, their happiness of finally finding their presents under the Christmas tree and then the following, more relaxed Christmas days full of delicious food, laughter, and laziness. 🙂
And if you would like to have a look at other Harry Potter inspired recipes, here they are:
English Chicken and Ham Pie
Fruit Mince Pies with Homemade Mince Pie Filling
Moist Chocolate Gateau or Cake with Chocolate Cream Filling
Harry Potter's Pumpkin Pasties
Hagrid's Book of Monsters Cake
PIN IT FOR LATER!

Hagrid's Rock Cakes
Ingredients
- 230 g all-purpose flour 8.1 oz/ 2 cups, (Note 1)
- 1 ¼ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- a pinch of salt
- a pinch of nutmeg
- 120 g unsalted butter 4.2 oz/ ½ cup, room temperature
- 100 g muscovado sugar 3.5 oz/ ½ cup
- 125 g chopped dried fruit 4.4 oz/ ⅔ cup, (Note 2)
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius/ 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, allspice, salt, and nutmeg. Add the soft butter and rub it into the flour with your hands until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
- Chop the larger dried fruit, if using. Sultanas, raisins or cranberries can be left whole.
- Combine: Beat the egg lightly in a small bowl. Stir the chopped fruit and egg into the flour-butter mixture with your hand or a spoon.
- Divide the dough into 10 heaps and place the heaps on the prepared baking tray. You should not try to give them a nice shape, leave them rough so that they can resemble rocks in the end.
- Bake for about 18-20 minutes or until golden brown. Leave to cool on the baking tray for about 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store airtight.
Notes
- Always use a digital kitchen scale in baking; it ensures the best results (Amazon affiliate link).
- I used sultanas, prunes, and apricots.
Monica says
I know, time is flying and each year, it goes faster and faster! How fun is your Harry Potter series! I love those books so much. These rock cakes are so fun - love that they are soft versions. December is my favorite month as well...looking forward to seeing what you cook up!
Dawn @ Girl Heart Food says
I really love Christmas too and time does fly by pretty fast. I was just saying to hubby the other night that it seemed like only yesterday we mailed Christmas cards and now it's that time again! Harry Potter is another favourite of mine and these cookies look really tasty...love the dried fruits in there and the name is super cute!!
Anca says
They look great. You don't have self-raising flour in Germany? That is so strange. I love having all the types of flour to chose from. You can add more baking powder and it works. The self-raising has 2 additional raising agents.
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
Oh I LOVE Harry Potter!! And I adore Hagrid!!! So these rock cakes are seriously making me swoon!!! I totally need to try these. PRONTO!!! LOVE it, girl! Cheers!
Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
Wow! What a lovely Potter series, Adina. I love those books so much. Love how delicious and fun these rock cakes are. Also adore love that they are soft versions. PS: We also don't get self-raising flour here in Finland! 🙂
caroline ballard says
When do you add the sugar, not sure if I'm being silly but I can't see it in your method. I made these and then tasted the mix and realised I had forgotten the sugar so had to add it right at the end! Not sure this was right?
Adina says
Sorry, Caroline. I added the sugar in the instructions. I hope everything went well anyway, the recipe is simple and forgiving.
caroline ballard says
@Adina, thanks for adding, I will add the sugar at the start next time. And the rock cakes still turned out okay, anything with all spice and nutmeg is bound to taste good ?
Skylar Morrison says
It sounds good, I love it so much that I want to make it.
Marial says
I had to add an extra egg, since it didn't seem to bind together all that well with one.
Samantha says
Absolutely delicious
Adina says
Thank you for the feedback. 🙂
Rupa says
Can these be made up to a week in advance or more?
Adina says
Hi. I would not keep them for more than 3-4 days. But you can freeze them well wrapped and packed for up to 3 months. D