Soul Cakes (English All Souls Spiced Cakes)

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Cookies bars Easy

Soul Cakes (English All Souls Spiced Cakes)

These are soft, lightly sweet shortbread-scone-style cakes with currants and warm spice, each marked with a cross. They are our adaptation of the traditional cake. Makes 12 cakes in about 38 minutes.

Prep 20 min

Cook 18 min

Total 38 min

Servings 12

Ingredients

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servings

2 ⅓ cups (300 g)all-purpose flour
¾ tsp (3 g)baking powder
1 ½ tsp (4 g)mixed sweet spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice)
¼ tsp (2 g)fine salt
½ cup (115 g)unsalted butter, cold, cubed
½ cup (100 g)sugar
7 tbsp (60 g)currants or raisins
2 (36 g)egg yolks
2 ½ tbsp (40 ml)whole milk, as needed
1 (18 g)egg yolk, beaten with 1 teaspoon milk

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Instructions

Heat the oven to 350 F (175 C) and line a baking sheet with parchment.
Whisk the flour, baking powder, spice and salt. Rub in the butter with your fingertips until it looks like fine crumbs, then stir in the sugar and currants.
Mix in the yolks and just enough milk to bring the dough together. Do not overwork.
Pat the dough to 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) thick and cut 12 rounds about 2 1/2 inches (6 cm) wide with a floured cutter, re-rolling the scraps.
Place on the sheet, mark each with a cross using the back of a knife, and brush with the yolk glaze.
Bake 15 to 18 minutes, until pale golden. Cool 10 minutes on the sheet and then on a rack.

Tips

Keep the butter cold for a tender crumb.
Press the cross deep enough that it stays visible after baking.
Soak the currants in a spoonful of hot tea for plumper fruit.
Good with hot spiced tea.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make soul cakes (english all souls spiced cakes)?

Plan on 20 minutes of prep and 18 minutes of cooking. The recipe makes 12 cakes (12 servings).

How should I store soul cakes (english all souls spiced cakes)?

Store airtight at room temperature up to 3 days, or freeze up to 1 month.

Can I make soul cakes (english all souls spiced cakes) ahead?

It is at its best the day it is made; prepare it a few hours before serving.

Soul cakes are small spiced rounds given to soulers who went from door to door on All Hallows and All Souls Day, singing for the dead in return. Serve it with hot spiced tea.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 12 servings this recipe makes.

225 Calories / serving

9.5g Fat

31.8g Carbs

3.6g Protein

11.6g Sugar

Whole recipe (12 servings): ~2700 cal · 114g fat · 382g carbs · 43g protein · 139g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.