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
Units
Scale
- 450 g / 2 1/2 cups dried fruit (I used raisins and cranberries, but currants and even dates work wonderfully)
- 400 ml /1 3/4 cups brewed black tea
- 225 g / 2 cups self-raising flour (white)
- 225 g / 2 cups plain wholemeal flour
- 175 g / 3/4 cup unrefined sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp mixed spice (or 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp allspice, pinch of ground clove and a pinch of ground ginger)
- 1/2 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: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 30
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 4
- Cholesterol: 20