Feasting on Romantic Comedy – Rock Cakes from Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone by J K Rowling

This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.

As I was dividing up the rock cake dough and placing each piece evenly onto the baking tray, I was composing a letter to Hagrid in my head. Don't laugh, I know he probably gets hundreds and hundreds of letters a week and most likely wouldn't see mine, but I felt I just had to help him with his rock cake recipe.

We all know Hagrid has a soft spot for Harry Potter. In Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, it was him who scooped Baby Harry up and flew him on young Sirius Black's motorbike through the skies before arriving at the Dursley's. He was a little emotional and a little worried when he handed him over, so that he could be brought up as a muggle. During all those years that followed, I bet Hagrid thought about Harry a lot, wondering what he was up to, and comforted that although his parents were dead, at least he was with family.

But then, of course, on Harry's 11th birthday, he arrives to fetch Harry for Hogwarts, with a chocolate birthday cake and the words Happy Birthday Harry written on the top in green icing. Shocked that Harry didn't know anything about his background, Hagrid is the one who takes on the responsibility to explain. Telling him that his parents were not killed in a car crash as Harry had been thinking all these years, but, in fact, had been blown up by a bad wizard called Voldemort. It is a huge responsibility for this half-giant, but Dumbledore knew exactly what he was doing when he got Hagrid to fetch Harry as a baby and again when he got Hagrid to fetch Harry as an 11 year old. 

And even when Harry was at school, Hagrid still looked out for him. During his first week, Hagrid invited Harry over for tea, via owl letter, and served Harry, along with his new friend Ron, tea and rock cakes. These rock cakes, are, like the birthday cake with green icing, Hagrid's way of telling this orphan boy that he is loved. He may not have a real father anymore, but there is a giant, gruff, dragon-loving chap here who would like to do all he can to fill the gap.

It is these rock cakes that I want to write to Hagrid about. Yes, his were undoubtedly provided with love and affection, but, alas, were like real rocks. They almost broke Harry and Ron's teeth. So I'd love to send him this recipe. Because I find them crispy and firm on the outside and soft and crumbly on the inside. 

The recipe I used was this one from Delia Smith, but with a few changes. Instead of mixed spice and nutmeg I used vanilla, and instead of mixed dried fruit I used a chopped bar of milk chocolate.

Tomorrow is Harry Potter Book Night, so why not make some in Hagrid's honour?