“Finally he slammed down three bucket-sized mugs of mahogany-brown tea in front of them and a plate of his rock cakes. Harry was hungry enough even for Hagrid’s cooking, and took one at once.” – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Hagrid’s Rock Cakes, minus the broken teeth
Throughout the Harry Potter books, Hagrid’s cooking is something that seems best to be avoided. As described in The Sorcerer’s Stone, “The rock cakes almost broke their teeth, but Harry and Ron pretended to be enjoying them.”
On the contrary, a classic Rock Cake has a consistency somewhat similar to a scone with a crumbly, rock-like outer and a soft, dense center. Even though it’s the dead of summer, you’re going to be craving fall days curled up with a cuppa, a good book (preferably Harry Potter), and these Paleo Rock Cakes. They are chock full of aromatic spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves and I am a firm believer that the orange zest is what completely elevates them. It’s safe to say that your kitchen is going to smell delightful.
A World War II treat updated
Rock cakes were introduced in Great Britain during World War II as a result of strict rationing of food. Traditional rock cakes require fewer eggs and sugar than an ordinary cake, making them a suitable replacement for more elaborate baked goods when these luxuries were sparse.
My recipe for Hagrid’s Rock Cakes stays true to its simple origins but has been updated to fit a Paleo diet. I’ve swapped out the traditional flour for a Paleo flour mix from Bob’s Red Mill that contains a simple mix of almond flour, arrowroot starch, organic coconut flour, and tapioca flour. I’ve also swapped the granulated sugar for a small amount of raw honey.
Most rock cakes contain a mix of dried fruits, generally seedless raisins (sultanas) and/or currants in order to obtain their rocky shape. I’ve added both, but you can feel free to mix the fruit up as you see fit. Dried apricots and blueberries make a great alternative as well.
A note for special diets
This recipe for Hagrid’s Paleo Rock Cakes is gluten-free, grain-free, refined sugar-free, and friendly for Paleo diets.
LOOKING FOR MORE HARRY POTTER CONTENT?
I’m celebrating Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling’s birthdays on July 31st by filling the month with all things Potter. Check back regularly this month to see additional Harry Potter recipes and content linked HERE.
Hagrid’s Paleo Rock Cakes
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Total Time: 34 minutes
- Yield: 28 cakes 1x
- Category: Breads, Butters, and Jams, Breakfast & Brunch
- Cuisine: British
Ingredients
- 2 cups Bob’s Red Mill Paleo Baking Flour
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 tbsp orange zest
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp cloves
- 1/2 cup cold ghee (may substitute butter if you aren’t strict Paleo)
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup raw honey
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/3 cup seedless raisins
- 1/3 cup dried currants
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C). Line a baking sheet with a silicone liner.
- Combine flour mix, baking powder, orange zest, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves in a food processor or stand mixer.
- Add cold ghee or butter to dry mixture and pulse for 1 minute or until the mixture becomes crumbly.
- Add eggs, vanilla, and honey and pulse until combined.
- Pull out the food processor blade or whisk from your stand mixer and add dried fruit to the dough. Mix by hand with a wooden spoon.
- Spoon out dough mixture in uneven mounds, about 1 1/2 tbsp per cake. Remember that they are supposed to look like knobbly rocks so there’s no need to roll the dough into perfect balls.
- Bake for 13-15 minutes or until tops are golden.
- Allow to cool for 10 minutes before handling.
Notes
Nutritional information on Whip & Wander is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 rock cake
- Calories: 92
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 12 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 24 mg
Oh how fun!! All Harry Potter fans are sure to love these cookies! What a great idea.
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What a fun idea! I’m a big Harry Potter fan and have been looking forward to reading them to my kids when they are a little older and then doing themed dinner/movie nights!
My oldest is a huge HP fan. I bet she would love to try these. They sound awesome.
Yum this looks delicious. Thank you for sharing the recipe!
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I love the idea of making recipes to align with my favorite books! These look great and I can’t wait to see what else you whip up for Harry Potter.
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I love the Harry Potter theme! These look so tasty!
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I want to make these! They sound AMAZE
I really love this theme! and those Rock Cakes look delicious…. makes me want a cup of tea!
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My daughter is obsessed with Harry Potter and I know she would flip for these rock cakes. I bet she’d love to help me bake them. They will make a great snack.
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I’ve been enjoying your whole series of Harry Potter recipes. This recipe for the Rock Cakes is not different. So great, too that it is paleo!
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How fun! We love Harry Potter! I will have to give them a try!
Oh my gosh I love that you made these! I definitely have to try them, as I’m a huge HP fan!
I love your baking theme! These sound like a lot of fun, plus the recipe is a good way to cut back on sugar. I’ll have to give these a try. They look like they travel well too – we often need some snacks when we go to the pool.
I love that you took recipe inspiration from Hagrid! These look so yummy and I love the spices you used!
As a big Harry Potter fan I feel I should try this!
Mmmm, I love raisins and Harry Potter! What a wonderful combo
Another fun HP recipe! Love the history behind rock cakes – I had no idea!
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Harry Potter themed and paleo?! These might just be my favorite new snacks! Thanks for sharing!
This paleo recipe sounds very tasty. 🙂
yay to Harry Potter fans!!!! my mum actually used to make rock cakes when we were kids, they’re in Australia too and are really delicious! quite soft despite the name! these look delicious 🙂
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yay to Harry Potter fans!!!! my mum actually used to make rock cakes when we were kids, they’re in Australia too and are really delicious! quite soft despite the name! these look delicious 🙂
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These are brilliant and creative, I am amazed on how cool this post is. Your did a great job!
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Just love these little ideas for the books!! SO creative and fun!
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These are too fun! I have a Harry Potter fan that would LOVE these little cakes! i love that these are paleo too!
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What a fun theme for the month, I think these look a lot better then they initially did in my imagination from the description!
How cute! I love anything with orange flavoring
These sounds delicious. Love the fruits in them.
I love that this snack is Harry Potter themed! They sound absolutely delicious too!
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Oh goodness, this couldn’t have come at a better time! My kids are GF and DF and we’re also in the middle of the Harry Potter series! I’m totally going to surprise them with these cookies this week 🙂 Thanks
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Such a fun theme!! I need to have an HP marathon party! 🙂
Hehe! I love your Harry Potter series of recipes!! And I adore these rock cakes. I laughed out loud when I read “minus the broken teeth” These look fun and delicious and I can’t wait to try them!
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Thanks, Elaine! I am a tremendous Harry Potter fan, but sometimes you just need to tweak the recipe in favor of keeping your teeth intact.
These look so yummy! I love a good cake 😉
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How fun are these?! I love these inspired cakes. Perfect in the morn with some jam…mmm I wish I had one right now 😀
My kids love Harry Potter. I’ve never tried paleo but I think I would like these cookies. Like the name, you choose for them too. Rock Cakes. Saving these for later.
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This is so much fun!! I just recently started re-reading the Harry Potter series with my 6-year-old. He’d get such a kick out of having these cakes while we read this book when we get to that part of the story 🙂
That would be a really fun thing to pair with the books. I bet he would be so excited!
The rock cakes look delicious — thank you for the history. It was super interesting. I’m sure that everyone who is on a restricted diet will appreciate having treats that they can enjoy. And it’s just as good for people who aren’t on restricted diets. They look so yummy I’d love some in the afternoon with coffee.
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What a fun Harry Potter inspired recipe! These would be great for a kids’ party (or adults, who am I kidding?!)
Not gonna lie, I know nothing about Harry Potter, but either way this sounds like fun!
Wow, that’s so interesting about the history of rock cakes. It’s amazing how inventive people are when they have few options. These look delicous
I have to admit; I never jumped on the Harry Potter bandwagon. That certainly doesn’t take away from these cookies. They sound so good, and I bet they’d be gone in less than a day at my house.
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I love that you created a Harry Potter inspired cookie recipe! Extra love that fact that it won’t result in broken teeth. 😉 Can’t wait to give these a try!
I love the history behind these cookies, it’s so interesting.
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This looks like so much fun. We have watched all the Harry Potter movies because my kids are huge fans. They will love these. Looks so simple and easy too
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these are a very nice twist on what ever they would eat in that movie. Sounds like you must be a huge fan of this .
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My kids are delighted with Harry Potter. I’m sure they will exactly like your recipe. It’s so easy and tasty.
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Great snack for my son. He is a fan of Harry Potter. You make it so easy. I want to try to cook it. Sounds tasty.
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I know a few Harry Potter fans that would LOVE these. The look easy enough for the kids to get involved with too.
I’m sure kids would love testing the concept of whether or not their teeth will break off while eating these!
I’m pretty sure my kids would tease me mercilessly, acting as if they lost every last tooth!
regardless how soft they were.
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These look so good! My mom makes scones all the time, but usually makes the full-sized ones. I’ll have to share this recipe with her so she can make it
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The rock cakes look delicious! And this is such a special treat for all of the Harry Potter lovers. Our older grandsons really got into the books and movies. I’ll have to make them some.
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Absolutely loving these! And the kids… they will be amazed! They are always “hungry enough – even for Hagrid’s cooking” so this recipe is perfect! Thank you.
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How fun to make treats to go along with a story! I have no idea who Hagrid or his.her rock cakes, but they do sound delicious! I’ll have to show these to my son – I think he’ll love them and this whole idea!
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Oh I love how you included the history of these little cookies, it always makes it more special to know the “why” behind something. I will have to add these to my baking list so I can see for myself how tasty they are 🙂
What a fun treat to make for the holidays and I know the little one would love it as well! Such a fun post to read.
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These cookies are such a fun and they sound so flavorful and tasty. I love orange flavored cookies. You’ve added my favorite currants also. Soo yummy! Can’t wait to make this.
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I just made these – absolutely perfect! Certainly not rock-like / had just the right sweetness and spices for my liking.
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