Name: A Bite of Britain: Bara Brith
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Cuisine: Welsh
Ingredients: 450 g / 2 ½ cups dried fruit (I used raisins and cranberries, but currants and even dates work wonderfully); 400 ml /1 ¾ cups brewed black tea; 225 g / 2 cups self-raising flour (white); 225 g / 2 cups plain wholemeal flour; 175 g / ¾ cup unrefined sugar; 2 tsp baking powder; 1 ½ tsp mixed spice (or ½ tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp allspice, pinch of ground clove and a pinch of ground ginger); ½ tsp salt; 1 egg; 2 Tbsp marmalade or jam (I used low-sugar apricot jam)

Description

A traditional Welsh tea cake, Bara Brith is a delightful quick bread speckled with dried fruits and infused with black tea, perfect for enjoying with a cup of tea.

Ingredients

Scale

450 g / 2 ½ cups dried fruit (I used raisins and cranberries, but currants and even dates work wonderfully)
400 ml /1 ¾ cups brewed black tea
225 g / 2 cups self-raising flour (white)
225 g / 2 cups plain wholemeal flour
175 g / ¾ cup unrefined sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 ½ tsp mixed spice (or ½ tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp allspice, pinch of ground clove and a pinch of ground ginger)
½ tsp salt
1 egg
2 Tbsp marmalade or jam (I used low-sugar apricot jam)

Instructions

Night Before: Place the dried fruit in a bowl and pour over the brewed black tea. Cover and let soak overnight.
Baking Day: Preheat your oven to 175°C / 325°F. Grease and line two loaf pans (one large and one small, or three small pans).
In a large mixing bowl, combine the self-raising flour, brown sugar, and mixed spice.
Add the soaked fruit and tea mixture to the dry ingredients, along with the egg. Stir until well combined.
Divide the mixture evenly between the prepared loaf pans.
Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour, or until a skewer inserted into the center of the loaves comes out clean.
Allow the loaves to cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Slice and serve with butter and a cup of tea.

Notes

For a more traditional flavor, use a mix of raisins and currants. Feel free to experiment with different dried fruits like cranberries or dates. The mixed spice is essential for authentic flavor, but you can substitute with a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice if needed. This bread is best enjoyed fresh but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days. It’s delicious served with butter and a hot cup of tea.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Category: Baking
Cuisine: Welsh

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice
Calories: 250
Sugar: 30
Sodium: 150
Fat: 1
Carbohydrates: 55
Fiber: 3
Protein: 4
Cholesterol: 20