Have you ever tried Cornish Fairings? Can you even find them outside of the county? I’m sure they’re no where near as famous as the pasty or clotted cream, but I’m more than happy to be proved wrong.
These Cornish Fairings are slightly more spiced than the shop bought variety, which pleases my palate no end, but admittedly may not be perfectly true to the original traditional recipe. However, they are delicious and the various people I’ve made them for recently seem to agree too.
Jonny obviously got to taste the first batch, Choclette the second, and batch number three went with me to photography school today to give my thanks to all that recently voted for me.
A deluge of appreciative comments means I am now happy to share them with the world.
Rather than using a baking sheet, you’ll want to bake these in a roasting tin, as 2/3 of the way through you need to bash the tin onto a work surface to spread the cookie dough out and give the fairings their traditional cracked appearance.
Due to this semi violent treatment, I hereby declare baking them as a tasty form of therapy.
- 100 g plain flour
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- Scraping of nutmeg
- Pinch salt
- 1 & 1/2 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda
- 50 g butter softened
- 50 g caster sugar
- 2 & 1/2 tablespoons golden syrup
- Preheat the oven to 180c/160 fan/350f/gas4
- Sift the first 6 ingredients into a large bowl. Rub in the butter, then mix in the sugar.
- Heat the golden syrup to loosen it by standing the jar or can in hot water for a few minutes. Measure out the syrup and mix in the dry mix. You'll end up with a very soft dry mix that will come together into a soft dough when pressed.
- Scoop up a dessert spoon amount of mix and press together with your hands then roll between your palms into little balls. Space them out in a greased baking tin and bake for 10 minutes.
- Take them out of the oven at this point and bang the baking tin down onto the work surface quite hard to make the surface of the fairings crack and spread.
- Pop them back in the oven for 5 more minutes.
- Carefully transfer them onto a cooling rack when fully cooked.
Julie's Family Kitchen says
I do love your recipes, you always seem to bake things I want to bake too. The Cornish Fairings look so yummy. Your pictures are fab like always. x
Jane Sarchet says
Aww, thank you Julie :) I have been baking so much ‘naughty’ stuff lately, I think I tend to do that more when the weather is crappy. Roll on summer!
Janie x
Choclette says
I can attest to these Cornish Fairings being delicious AND heaps better than the bought ones. I’m coming back for seconds ;-)
Jane Sarchet says
Batch number four on its way… :)
Janie x
Lizzy (Good Things) says
Oh how I love dunking biscuits, Janie!
Jane Sarchet says
Haha, go make a batch and get dunkinig Lizzy! :)
Janie x
Tammy/Our Neck of the Woods says
I’ve never heard of these, but they do sound delicious! Anything that I can dunk into a cup of tea or coffee is alright in my book. Your photos are lovely and I just adore how you write your posts :)
Jane Sarchet says
Thanks Tammy! :)
Janie x
ManjiriK says
I wouldn’t mind a batch myself Janie , send me some over as a get well soon gift now will ya ;)
Ur photos are brilliant!
Jane Sarchet says
On their way Manjiri…
Janie x
Karen says
I LOVE Cornish Fairings and I used to buy some from the café across the road from school in Camelford when we lived in Cornwall, with my lunch money! LOVE yours Janie darlink! Karen
Jane Sarchet says
Cute! They’re cracking aren’t they.
Janie x
Bintu @ Recipes From A Pantry says
Never ever heard of Cornish Fairings. Would love to dunk one or three right now in my cup of chai tea,
Jane Sarchet says
I reckon you’d love them Bintu!
Janie x
Glamorous Glutton says
Oh I love Cornish Fairings. We used to buy loads of them when we were on holiday in Cornwall. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them anywhere else. I’d forgotten about them, thanks for the reminder and the recipe. GG
Jane Sarchet says
You’re welcome, if you give them a bash do let me know if they’re as you remember GG
Janie x
Sylvia says
Beautiful pictures Janie! I would love thsse buiscuits now with my cuppa. xx
Jane Sarchet says
Thanks Sylvia :)
Janie x
Jacqueline says
I’ve never heard of bashing biscuits have way through baking before, but they do look awesome. Loving the photos and that scratchy backdrop too.
Jane Sarchet says
Thank you Jac! The bashing part seems to be unique to the fairing from what I can work out, it’s good fun though :)
Janie x
Jen says
Oh dear, mine spread out too much and all joined together. Do you think sitting the mix or rolled balls in the fridge for 30mins would help?
Jane Sarchet says
Hmmm, maybe you’re just really strong and bashed the life out of them! Try spreading them out over 2 trays so they have lots of room to spread, however I bet they still tasted delish?
Janie x
Janice Pattie (@FarmersgirlCook) says
I have made Cornish Fairings before, but I don’t remember having to bash the tin to make them crack. It was a long time ago though. They certainly look very authentic. Nice pics too.
Jane Sarchet says
Thanks Janice! Do give the bashing part a go, it’s kinda fun :)
Janie x
Morgan @ Peaches, Please says
Well, as someone living outside of the UK, I can say that I’ve never heard of Cornish Fairings. However, if you used molasses in lieu of golden syrup, they would be very similar to some of the ginger molasses cookies we have over here. They look super tasty.
Jane Sarchet says
Ooh, they sound tasty. May give that little switch a go, thanks Morgan!
Janie x
Aoife @ The Daily Spud says
Hey there – made a batch of these earlier today and they’re nearly gone – I think that tells you a lot! Have to admit that I didn’t bother with the tin bashing bit, but I did use a lot less bicarb of soda (just 1/4 tsp) – the biscuits had a nice cracked / crinkly appearance anyway and didn’t spread too much. Definitely on the list to make again – I’m thinking that some lemon zest & nibbed almonds would work nicely in there too…
Jane Sarchet says
Hey Aoife, glad to hear you enjoyed them and so sweet to think that a little bit of Cornwall has crossed the water :)
Hope you’re well and will be great to catch up with you in London this year?
Janie x