Singin' Hinnies - Northumbrian Tea-Time Griddle Cakes/Scones

French Tart's Note:

Served warm and oozing with butter, these fabulous fruity griddlecakes make a great treat for breakfast or afternoon tea. I remember my grandmother making these when I was little; she lived in a very old stone cottage in Northumberland, and made these on a huge cast iron black griddle, or girdle as they were also called! We used to eat them hot from the griddle, with butter – in front of a roaring wood fire during the winter months. Singin' hinnies are a type of fried fruit scone or griddle cake, so called as they 'sing' and sizzle whilst cooking. 'Hinny' is a Northern term for endearment used especially to children - my grandmother used to call me "hinny". Similar to singin' hinnies are Northumbrian griddle cakes, also known as Gosforth gridies. If you are making them for a children’s party or at Christmas, put coins that have been briefly boiled, then wrapped in greaseproof paper, in the middle of some of the singin’ hinnies.

• Total Time: 40 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 4-6

Yield: 8.0 Singin' ...

• 250 g flour
• 1⁄8; teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 1⁄8; teaspoon cream of tartar
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 60 g butter , at room temperature
• 60 g lard or 60 g white vegetable fat
• 85 g raisins
• milk , to bind
• fat or dripping , for the griddle
• knobs butter

Directions:

1. Sift together the flour, raising powders and salt.
2. Rub in the butter and lard/vegetable fat, and then mix in the fruit.
3. Add enough milk to make a firm dough. Roll out, and then cut into rounds of about 3" or 6cm in diameter.
4. Grease the heated griddle (or a heavy frying pan or skillet) with lard or dripping thoroughly. Put on the cakes and turn them when the underneath is a nice mottled brown. Keep the singin' hinnies warm in the oven until they are all cooked.
5. Cut in half and put a big knob of butter in the middle. Serve immediately.

Reviews

[pattikay in L.A.]

These were a big hit at dinner last night. Easy to put together and quick to cook - we loved them! Thanks for sharing.

[Darcy, Culinary Explorer]

First, Thanks for the reviews on my recipes!!! Second, my Grannie used to make these for me when i was little and my mom worked at Race St. Fish Market. ( i was the spoiled first Great-Grandchild) Id ask for these "Breakfast Cakes" everytime my Grannie babysat me, and she always obliged cuz it was THE ONLY WAY id eat raisins!!!! thank you, THANK YOU for the recipe! i hope my own daughter enjoys them as much as i did! ~Darc