Eccles Cakes

I just found this old recipe which I used to make many, many years ago.  In fact, this recipe is the reason I am generally disappointed when I buy an eccles cake in a bakery.  They can also be made with currents and other fruits but I love dates.

1-3/4 cups all purpose flour

2-1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tbsp granulated sugar

1/4 tsp salt

3/8 cup cold butter

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1/3 cup milk

1/2 cup chopped dates

3 tbsp additional butter

sugar to sprinkle over tops

In a bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt together.  Cut in the butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Reserve 2 tbsp of the beaten egg to brush tops of cakes.  Stire the remaining egg with the milk into the dry ingredients.  Blend until dough holds together in a ball.

Roll out to 3/4" thickness.  Cut into 2-1/2" rounds.  Place rounds on a lightly greased baking sheet.

Poke a hole in the centre of each round.  Fill with chopped dates.  Dot with butter.  Fold over to make turnovers, sealing in the filling.

Brush tops with reserved egg.  Sprinkle with sugar.

Bake at 450F for 10-12 minutes.  Serve hot.

Makes 12 cakes.