The Kitchel is traditionally used to mark the start of the Harwich mayor's term. After the ceremony, the new mayor, throws the small sweet buns, known as Kitchels, to the town’s children from the balcony of the historic Guildhall. This tradition has been going for over 400 years.

Ingredients

16oz Puff Pastry
8oz currants
2oz butter
3oz candied peel
2oz ground almonds
½ tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg

Method

Melt the butter in a saucepan and remove from the heat.
Add the washed currants, candied peel, ground almonds, spices and mix well.
Divide the pastry in half and roll both pieces it into a thin square shape.
Moisten the edges with water and spread the currant mixture over the pastry, avoiding the moistened edges.
Cover the mixture with the remaining piece of pastry and press the edges well together to seal.
Carefully mark the top of the pastry with a knife into sections but be careful not to cut right through to the filling.
Bake in a very hot oven for around 30minutes.
Sprinkle with caster sugar and cut into sections whilst still warm.

If you have a recipe you would like us to try, please send it to: kerry.burn@onesuffolk.co.uk

Click here to see more recipes