Teisen Lap
A moist, lightly spiced Welsh fruit cake baked in a square tin and cut into squares, eaten warm with butter and a cup of tea.
How to Make Teisen Lap
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Heat the oven to 180°C / 350°F and grease and line a 20 cm square cake tin.
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Rub the butter into the flour and mixed spice with your fingertips until it looks like fine breadcrumbs. Stir in the caster sugar and sultanas.
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Beat the egg with the milk and stir it into the dry ingredients to make a soft batter that drops easily from the spoon, adding a spoonful more milk if it is stiff.
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Spoon the batter into the tin, smooth the top, and sprinkle with the demerara sugar.
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Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until golden and a skewer comes out clean.
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Cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then cut into squares and serve warm, spread with butter.
Tips for Making Teisen Lap
- Make the batter soft. A stiff mixture gives a dry, scone-like cake, and a soft one gives the moist crumb the name promises.
- Rub in the butter until fine. It coats the flour and gives the cake a tender crumb, and lumps of butter leave greasy holes.
- Serve it warm. The cake is at its best in the first hour, with butter melting into the crumb.
Common Substitutions & Variations
- No self-raising flour to hand? Use the same weight of plain flour plus 2 teaspoons of baking powder per 150 g.
What to Serve with Teisen Lap
- Salted butter
- A pot of tea
- Mature cheddar
Storing & Reheating Teisen Lap
Keeps in an airtight tin for up to 2 days. Freeze for up to 2 months, and warm squares in a 160°C oven for 8 minutes before serving.
Teisen Lap FAQ: Common Questions
How long does Teisen Lap take to make?
About 55 minutes in total — 20 minutes of preparation and 35 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 8.
What are the key tips for making Teisen Lap?
Make the batter soft. A stiff mixture gives a dry, scone-like cake, and a soft one gives the moist crumb the name promises. Rub in the butter until fine. It coats the flour and gives the cake a tender crumb, and lumps of butter leave greasy holes. Serve it warm. The cake is at its best in the first hour, with butter melting into the crumb.
What should I serve with Teisen Lap?
Salted butter; A pot of tea; Mature cheddar.
Can Teisen Lap be made ahead or frozen?
Keeps in an airtight tin for up to 2 days. Freeze for up to 2 months, and warm squares in a 160°C oven for 8 minutes before serving.
Is Teisen Lap suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegetarian. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Teisen Lap?
About 308 kcal per serving, with 5 g protein, 45 g carbohydrate and 12 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Teisen Lap Nutrition
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
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