RECIPE | Eccles cakes

Makes: around 8

Ingredients:

400g ready-made flaky pastry

Filling:

300g mixed cake fruit, or prepared cake mince

20g brown sugar

3ml mixed spices, including nutmeg and cinnamon

30g butter

To finish:

1 egg, beaten with a little milk

Caster sugar

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 220°C (slightly lower for a fan oven).
2. Roll out the pastry fairly thinly and cut into rounds 12-14cm in diameter. Layer the remaining pastry (to keep the flaky texture), re-roll and cut more rounds.
3. Mix all the filling ingredients together. Place a rounded tablespoonful of the filling in the centre of each round of pastry and top with a sliver of butter.
4. Dampen the pastry edges with water and pull up the edges towards the centre. Pinch together to seal at the centre. Turn the shape over, sealed side down, and roll flat until the fruit just shows through.
5. Place on a greased baking tray and slash the top with a knife three times. Glaze with egg and milk wash and sprinkle with caster sugar.
6. Bake for about 15 minutes until golden brown. Delicious — they won’t last long!