Bara Brith is very popular in Wales, a traditional treat, a fruit tea loaf. Having been intrigued as to just how it tasted, since I have never had any before, I set about making a loaf. I used recipe from BBC Food it appeared in the Hairy Bikers program, with a lady called Mary Hamilton making it. Having checked various different recipes Mary’s was the one that seemed very simple and was likely to be so tasty.
This really is the simplest of recipes, even thought the elapsed time is rather long. Basically you have to soak mixed dried fruit in tea, overnight. Then you are ready to make the loaf, which only takes a few minutes of preparation from that point.
The resultant loaf is just great. The kitchen fills with the heady aroma of mixed spice and when the loaf is cooled and cut you see the full fruity goodness inside. Then, of course, comes the tasting and it is delicious just by itself. I am sure some butter spread on it would make it even better for some people.
Ingredients:
- 450g/1lb dried mixed fruit
- 250g/9oz brown sugar( used 125g light brown and 125g dark brown)
- 300ml/½ pint warm black tea
- 2 tsp mixed spice
- 450g/1lb self-raising flour
- 1 free-range egg, beaten
- In a large bowl soak the fruit and sugar in strained tea and leave overnight.
- Next day preheat the oven to 170C/325F/Gas 3.
- Line a 900g/2lb loaf tin with baking parchment.
- Mix the mixed spice into the flour.
- Add the eggs and the flour mixture into the fruit mixture and beat until fully incorporated.
- Pour the mixture into the loaf tin and bake the oven and bake for 1½ hours or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.
- Leave for a few minutes and then remove it loaf from the tin and place on a cooling rack to cool completely.