Irish Gur Cake Recipe: Traditional Dublin Sweet Treat Explained

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Irish Gur Cake: A Taste of Old Dublin

There are some recipes that feel like stepping back in time — and Gur Cake is one of them. In a recent video, Irish baker Chris shows how to make this classic Dublin treat, a pastry known in different regions as “gore cake,” “chest cake,” or even “flies’ graveyard.” Despite the playful nicknames, Gur Cake has long been a favourite in Dublin bakeries, remembered for its warm spices, sweet filling, and simple, comforting charm.

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Ingredients

Method

1. Soak the stale bread in cold tea until softened and rich in flavour. This is the base of the filling and a wonderful example of thrifty, traditional cooking.

2. Add the raisins and sultanas to the soaked bread. If you like, add a splash of rum to plump up the fruit and add depth of flavour.

3. Prepare the shortcrust pastry by rolling out enough for the base and top of the cake. Place the base layer into your baking tin.

4. Mix sugar, treacle, egg, flour, and spices (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and mixed spice) into the soaked bread and fruit mixture. This creates the dense, spiced filling that defines Gur Cake.

5. Spread the filling evenly over the pastry base, then seal it with the rolled-out pastry lid. Prick the top with a fork to allow steam to escape during baking.

6. Bake the cake for one hour in a preheated oven. Once baked, dust the top with caster sugar and allow the cake to cool completely.

7. Cut into squares once fully cooled. This resting time is essential for the flavours to settle and the texture to firm up perfectly.

How to Store Gur Cake

Store Gur Cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, keep it in the fridge where it will last about a week. The flavours often improve after a day or two.

Can You Freeze Gur Cake?

Yes, Gur Cake freezes well. Wrap individual squares tightly in cling film and place them in a freezer-safe container or bag. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.

Common Troubleshooting: Why Is My Gur Cake Too Dry?

If your Gur Cake turns out dry, it may be due to insufficient soaking of the bread or overbaking. Make sure the bread is well soaked in tea and the filling is moist before baking. Also, check your oven temperature and baking time carefully to avoid drying out the cake.

A Slice of Dublin Tradition

Gur Cake is built around the idea of never wasting anything. The filling starts with stale bread soaked in cold tea, allowing it to soften and take on rich flavour. Chris then adds raisins and sultanas — with a splash of rum if you like an extra kick — and lets them plump up before they’re mixed into the base.

This method of reusing leftover bread has always been part of what makes the recipe so rooted in Dublin life. It’s thrifty, homely, and full of personality.

The Shortcrust Pastry

Chris prepares a simple shortcrust pastry to form the top and bottom of the cake. The pastry is rolled and placed into the tin, ready to hold the dense, spiced filling. Another layer is rolled for the top, giving the cake its signature sandwich style.

Building the Filling

Once the soaked bread and fruit are ready, Chris mixes in sugar, treacle, an egg, flour, and a generous amount of spices — cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and mixed spice. This combination gives Gur Cake its unmistakable flavour: warm, rich, and deeply nostalgic.

The mixture is spread over the pastry base before being sealed with the pastry lid. Chris pricks the top with a fork to let steam escape, keeping the bake even.

Into the Oven

The cake bakes for one hour. When it comes out, Chris dusts the top with caster sugar and lets it cool completely. Gur Cake is meant to be cut into squares once fully cooled — that’s when the flavours settle and the texture firms up just right.

Why It Still Matters

Gur Cake is more than a recipe. It’s a taste of old Dublin — a reminder of simple ingredients, practical cooking, and warm family kitchens. Many Irish people grew up eating it from local bakeries. For others, it’s a new discovery that connects them to the city’s past.

Whether you’re trying it for the first time or reliving an old memory, this classic bake remains one of Dublin’s most comforting creations.

(Discover all the secrets of Irish cooking and more)

Psst, How About Some Mince Pies?

For more traditional Irish baking inspiration, try Chris’s Traditional Irish Soda Bread or his delightful raisin scones recipe. If you love hearty dishes, you might enjoy our traditional Irish stew recipe or the comforting Dublin Coddle recipe. For a sweet finish, the Irish Bread and Butter Pudding is a classic treat that pairs beautifully with a cup of tea.

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