Thunder and Lightning Cornish Splits

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Thunder and Lightning Cornish Splits are luscious, extraordinarily delicious golden syrup and clotted cream sandwiches hailing from Cornwall. Made using fresh, warm Cornish Splits, the cream and syrup melt into the warm bread which, in turn, will literally melt in your mouth! Reminiscent of a Steamed Syrup Sponge with Cream, this is an incredible new discovery for me.

Records of Thunder and Lighting sandwiches go as far back as the late 19th century, often made simply using slices of delicious fresh bread spread with cream, Cornish clotted of course, and golden syrup. However, Cornish Splits are perfect for this purpose – they are lightly sweetened, butter rich, light and fluffy, yeasted buns, also traditional to Cornwall. Seriously, you will be amazed how delicious they are.

You can also serve them with jam and cream

Given that these two weeks are all about Wimbledon tennis (for me at least), I have to point out that these Cornish Splits are also delicious served in the same way as scones: warm with clotted cream and jam/jelly. Of course, this week the jam has to be strawberry, but in fact, any jam of your choice would work perfectly.

Cornish Splits are new to me!

I came across Thunder and Lightning on our recent trip to Cornwall and coincidentally, I saw a recipe for Cornish Splits on @food_obsessed_girl’s insta feed around the same time. Cat also threw some Clotted Cream ice cream into the mix of her Thunder and Lighting Sandwiches, which sounds epic!

How to make Thunder and Lightning Cornish Splits

Collect all your ingredients together:

• strong white bread flour
• full fat milk
• caster sugar
• fast action dried yeast
• unsalted butter – lard is traditional but I prefer the flavour of butter. You could use half butter and half lard
• fine salt
• Icing sugar to finish

First make the Cornish Splits:

1. Heat the butter and milk gently and set on one side for the butter to melt whilst you collect the remaining ingredients together. The milk and butter need to be body temperature and not hot.
2. Weigh the flour, sugar, yeast and salt into the bowl of a freestanding mixture and stir to mix.
3. Pour the milk and butter into the flour mix and roughly stir with a spoon.
4. Attach the bowl to the free-standing mixer and, using the dough hook, beat on speed 2 for 5 minutes until silky, smooth and elastic.
5. Tip out of the bowl and knead briefly with your hands to bring together into a ball.
6. Transfer to an oiled mixing bowl. Cover and leave to rise until doubled in size. This normally takes between 1- 2 hours depending on how warm it is. If the room temperature is cold, I put mine in the oven set on dough setting at 42°C and it takes around 2 hours.
7. When it has doubled in size, knock the dough back with your hand and then remove the dough from the bowl onto a lightly floured work surface.
8. Briefly knead.
9. Divide the dough into 6 equal parts.
10. Knead each part into a ball shape.
11. Line a 20cm/8in x 20cm/8in square baking tray with baking parchment. Spread the dough balls out on the baking tray and cover with cling film.
12. Leave to rise until doubled in size. This normally takes around 45 minutes to an hour. If the room temperature is cold, I put mine in the oven set on dough setting at 42°C.
13. Transfer to a pre-heated oven and cook for 10 – 12 minutes or until lightly browned. I cover mine loosely with foil after 7 minutes.
14. As soon as the splits are cooked, remove from the oven and use the baking parchment to lift out onto a cooling rack.
15. Cover with a clean tea towel to cool slightly before eating.

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Put together the Thunder and Lightning:

Ingredients:

• clotted cream (or whipped double/heavy cream if you get get clotted)
• golden syrup

Now make those sandwiches!

This is the really easy bit, just like making a sandwich. How much golden syrup and cream you use, is totally up to you. We go for fully loaded – this was never meant to be diet food! Your choice.

1. Cut the Split in half horizontally and drizzle the base of your warm Cornish Split or slice of fresh bread with golden syrup.
2. Top with clotted cream.
3. Followed by another drizzle of golden syrup.
4. Now add the top of the Split or a second slice of fresh bread, sieve over some icing sugar and take a huge, unctuous bite of utter, sweet deliciousness.

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Alternatively, delicious with cream and jam

Ingredients:

• clotted cream (or whipped double/heavy cream if you get get clotted)
• jam/jelly – we like strawberry, raspberry or cherry

Now make those sandwiches!

Just like making a sandwich. How much jam and cream you use, is totally up to you. Just like the Thunder and Lightning, we go for fully loaded!

1. Cut the Split in half horizontally and spread the jam over the base of your warm Cornish Split or slice of fresh bread.
2. Top with clotted cream.
3. Now add the top of the Split or a second slice of fresh bread and sieve over some icing sugar – happy days!

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Made this recipe?

If you make this recipe, do please tag me on instagram @daffodil_kitchen. You could also leave a comment in the box directly below the recipe.