Irish Rock Buns

Recipe adapted by Margie McGrath

 

Margie, my cousin, discovered these in Ireland this past winter. True confessions: they did not stick around long enough for me to take a picture; they are pure delicious evil.

 

Ingredients

 

4 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup brown sugar

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup raisins (I like to use ½ cup each golden raisins and craisins or 1 cup Trader Joe's, "Golden Berry Blend")
1 cup shredded coconut
4 medium eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 T+ 2 t milk
 

Preparation

 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Spray baking sheet.

1. Mix baking powder with flour and then mix in the sugar.

2. Using fingertips, rub butter into flour until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

3. Add fruit and coconut.  Mix in evenly. 

4. Whisk eggs.  Mix in the milk and vanilla.  Pour into flour mixture and combine using a large spoon, until moist dough is formed.

5. With spoon or a ¼ cup measuring cup, shape dough into rough heaps or cone-shapes on the prepared baking sheet.  Optional: Sprinkle with white sugar before baking. 

6. Bake for 15 minutes or until done.   [It took my oven longer to bake them to a deep, golden brown.]

7. Cool and serve at room temperature.

8. Do not cover with Saran wrap or put them into plastic bags.  The crunchy crust will soften and they'll lose their rockness!