Bara Brith: A Heart-Warming Welsh Treat
There are two types of Bara Brith (speckled bread) – yeasted and un-yeasted.
The second is more like a tea bread, and the kind of heart-warming treat that is made for autumn and winter months – with a cup of tea of course!
This one involves soaking dried fruit in tea overnight and is an easy recipe that delivers a mouth-watering, moist and juicy bara brith – just like Mamgu used to make!
Ingredients
• 300g dried mixed fruit
• 350ml boiling water
• 3 tea bags
• 180g soft brown sugar
• 230g self-raising flour
• 1 medium egg
• 1/2 tsp mixed spice
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Method
1. Place the tea bags into a jug and add the boiling water. Leave to brew for 5 minutes.
2. Put the dried mixed fruit into a mixing bowl, pour over the tea and throw away the tea bags. Leave overnight.
3. Add the sugar to the mixture and stir until dissolved. Next add the whole egg, the flour and finally the mixed spice and ground cinnamon. Mix until the mixture resembles a thick cake-like batter.
4. Grease a loaf tin and pour in the cake mixture. It should come up no higher than half way, as the cake will rise in the oven.
5. Place on the middle shelf of a preheated oven at 150 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
6. Once done, remove from the oven and leave to cool for 10 minutes or so until the cake comes away from the sides of the tin.
7. Leave to cool on a cooling rack. Serve with butter and a freshly-brewed paned / cuppa!
