Whip & Wander

Recipes for food, travel, and life

Hagrid’s Paleo Rock Cakes

By 57 Comments

Hagrid's Paleo Rock Cakes

“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

Skip to recipe

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 Paleo 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 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 in each of my posts as they arrive.

Hagrid's Paleo Rock Cakes

Hagrid's Paleo Rock Cakes

Hagrid's Paleo Rock Cakes

Hagrid's Paleo Rock Cakes

32 votes

Print

Hagrid's Paleo Rock Cakes

Prep

Cook

Inactive

Total

Yield 28 cakes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Paleo Baking Flour Mix (Bob's Red Mill)
  • 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

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C). Line a baking sheet with a silicone liner.
  2. Combine flour mix, baking powder, orange zest, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves in a food processor or stand mixer.
  3. Add cold ghee or butter to dry mixture and pulse for 1 minute or until the mixture becomes crumbly.
  4. Add eggs, vanilla, and honey and pulse until combined.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. Bake for 13-15 minutes or until tops are golden.
  8. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before handling.

Courses Tea

Cuisine British

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 rock cake

Amount Per Serving

Calories 92

% Daily Value

Total Fat 7 g

11%

Saturated Fat 4 g

20%

Cholesterol 24 mg

8%

Sodium 12 mg

1%

Total Carbohydrates 9 g

3%

Dietary Fiber 1 g

4%

Sugars 5 g

Protein 2 g

4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Hagrid's Paleo Rock Cakes

Reader Interactions

Comments

  5. 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.

    Reply

  9. 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.

    Reply

  10. 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!

    Reply

  13. 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.

    Reply

  20. 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 🙂

    Reply

  21. 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 🙂

    Reply

  29. 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

    Reply

  34. 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.

    Reply

  36. 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.

    Reply

  37. What a fun Harry Potter inspired recipe! These would be great for a kids’ party (or adults, who am I kidding?!)

    Reply

  48. 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.

    Reply

  49. 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

    Reply

  50. 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.

    Reply

  51. 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.

    Reply

  52. 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!

    Reply

  53. 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 🙂

    Reply

  55. 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.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.