LACEMAKER'S CATTERN CAKES - ENGLISH SPICED SUGAR COOKIES
"Cattern cakes" are spiced with cinnamon, lightly fruited and flavoured with caraway seeds; they are traditionally made by the English Nottingham lacemakers for the festivities on their special feast day. The recipe goes back to Tudor times, and has changed little over the centuries, although they are sometimes made with yeast dough. Also known as Catherine Cakes (after Catherine of Aragon, whom whilst imprisoned locally at Ampthill, heard of the lacemaker's financial plight, and destroyed all of her lace only to commission some more and give work to the local industry). They are specially prepared for St. Catherine's Day - the patroness of spinners, lace-makers, rope-makers and spinsters - on the 25th November, which is the lacemaker's special day. They are traditionally washed down with Hot Pot - a hot mixture of rum, beer and eggs. I find that I prefer mine with a cup of tea! These delicious little cakes are more like a soft and slightly chewy biscuit or cookie.
Provided by French Tart
Categories Dessert
Time 20m
Yield 12 Cattern Cakes
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Mix all the dry ingredients together in a mixing bowl: flour, cinnamon, currants, ground almonds, caraway seeds and sugar.
- Add the melted butter and the beaten egg and mix well to give a soft dough.
- Roll the dough out on a floured board, into a rectangle about 12" x 10" - 30cm x 25cm.
- Brush the dough with water and sprinkle with the extra sugar and cinnamon to taste.
- Gently roll the dough up like a Swiss roll, not too tightly, and then cut the rolled up dough into 3/4" - 2cm slices.
- Place these slices on to a well greased and lined baking tray or biscuit/cookie sheet, making sure that they are spaced well apart.
- Bake in a pre-heated oven 200C/400F/Gas 6 for about 10 minutes, or until golden and crispy to the top.
- Allow the cattern cakes to cool on a wire rack. Sprinkle with extra caraway seeds, sugar and cinnamon if you like.
- Store in an airtight tin for up to 7 days.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 252.1, Fat 10.7, SaturatedFat 5.2, Cholesterol 35.8, Sodium 60.5, Carbohydrate 36, Fiber 1.6, Sugar 17.7, Protein 4.1
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Raisah Haffejee
[email protected]I'm not a fan of anise, but I still enjoyed these cookies. The anise flavor is subtle and it doesn't overpower the other spices.
Josephine Thompson
[email protected]These cookies are a great way to use up leftover spices. I always have a few tablespoons of ginger and cinnamon in my pantry, and these cookies are the perfect way to use them up.
Adeyemi Sheyi
[email protected]I love the unique shape of these cookies. They're perfect for a special occasion or a gift.
Salman fasrshi
[email protected]I wasn't sure what to expect when I first tried this recipe, but I was pleasantly surprised. The cookies are light and fluffy, and the spices are just right.
Arsalanjani Sheikh
[email protected]I've never had lacemaker's cattern cakes before, but I'm definitely a fan now. These cookies are delicious and they're so easy to make.
En Te
[email protected]These cookies are perfect for a cold winter day. They're warm and spicy, and they'll definitely warm you up from the inside out.
Raazik khan
[email protected]I made these cookies for a Christmas party and they were a huge hit. Everyone loved the unique flavor and the delicate texture.
Ronald Board
[email protected]I'm not a big fan of spicy cookies, but I really enjoyed these. The spices are subtle and they complement the sweetness of the cookie perfectly.
Bijay Gaming
[email protected]These cookies are a bit time-consuming to make, but they're definitely worth the effort. The lacemaker's cattern cakes are beautiful and delicious, and they're sure to impress your guests.
Mudassir Saleem
[email protected]I tried this recipe for the first time last week, and I was really impressed. The cookies were easy to make and they turned out perfectly. They're a great addition to any holiday cookie platter.
CurlyHeadBrownskin Queen
[email protected]I've been making these cookies for years, and they're always a hit. The combination of spices is perfect, and the cookies are always light and fluffy.
Jutt Mohsin
[email protected]These cookies are a delicious and unique treat. The lacemaker's cattern cakes have a delicate, crispy texture and a warm, spicy flavor. They're perfect for a special occasion or a simple afternoon snack.