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by Sneh | 15 comments
PUBLISHED 16 Nov '12 | UPDATED 12 Oct '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?
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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.
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Hi, I'm Sneh!
I share delicious, everyday recipes packed with big flavours. I believe that cooking and eating fresh wholesome food can be easily achieved by anyone. You just need a bit of practice and planning. I have been blogging for 20 years, have authored a cookbook Tasty Express and write a Substack Best Selling Newsletter - Live More Veg
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COMMENTS
15 Comments
Kenon October 19, 2016 at 3:14 PM
"Cup cake" is an Americanism; patty cake is an Australianism. I grew up with patty cakes, which my mother made frequently and very well, and I had only ever heard the American term on television until about a decade ago, when the Americanism started taking over in the land of patty cakes.
Patty cakes did not "morph" into cupcakes, as the latter is much larger, almost as large as the average muffin.
The best of all patty cakes was/is the butterfly, but uncut cakes were often iced and sprinkled with hundreds and thousands, another term probably not familiar to Americans.
Reply
Maritaon May 6, 2014 at 1:39 AM
Hi Sneh, patty cakes and their morph into cupcakes is a pet thing of mine! I just did a post on my blog on it it. Take a read of my musings and retro recipes if you are interested!
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Kiran @ KiranTarun.comon November 26, 2012 at 3:04 PM
Love the use of floral cardamom in baked goods. Looks so yum!
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Nancyon November 24, 2012 at 5:44 PM
I have a patty cake pan but have never used it - now I have the perfect recipe. Thank you!
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Sara (Belly Rumbles)on November 21, 2012 at 4:23 PM
Such gorgeous little cakes. I do love the use of cardamom.
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Roxana | Roxana's Home Bakingon November 21, 2012 at 10:31 AM
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 🙂Reply
suzanne Perazzinion November 17, 2012 at 7:10 PM
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.
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Maureen | org*smic Chefon November 17, 2012 at 6:27 PM
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.
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Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchenon November 17, 2012 at 3:48 PM
What a great way to bring an old nursery rhyme to life!
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Jennifer (Delicieux)on November 17, 2012 at 12:50 PM
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 😀
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Lynda - TasteFoodon November 17, 2012 at 7:34 AM
Beautiful cakes and photos!
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Laura (Tutti Dolci)on November 17, 2012 at 3:33 AM
Beautiful little cakes, I love the dusting of sugar!
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chinmayie @ love food eaton November 16, 2012 at 6:55 PM
Oh! How pretty! I want one gem scone pan too 🙂
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Rosaon November 16, 2012 at 5:53 PM
Lovely little cakes! Cardamom is a wonderful spice.
Cheers,
Rosa
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Julia {The Roasted Root}on November 16, 2012 at 3:57 PM
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!
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