Bara Brith translates to ‘speckled bread’: it’s a rich fruit tea loaf that’s popular all over Wales. Serve it sliced and buttered.

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Ingredients

  • 450g/1lb mixed, dried fruit
  • 300ml/½ pint cold black tea
  • 175g/6oz dark brown sugar
  • 1 medium free-range egg or egg replacement (vegan option)
  • 1 tbsp orange zest
  • 2 tbsp orange juice
  • 1 tbsp honey (golden or maple syrup can be used as a vegan alternative)
  • 450g/1lb self-raising flour
  • 1 tsp mixed spice
  • Extra honey (or golden/maple syrup) for glazing

        Method

        1. Put the mixed dried fruit into a mixing bowl. Pour over the tea, cover and leave to soak overnight.
        2. The next day mix together the sugar, egg, orange juice, zest and honey. Add to the fruit.
        3. Sift in the flour and mixed spice, and mix well.
        4. Pour the mixture into a buttered loaf tin and bake at 160°C/325°F/gas mark 3 for about 1¾ hours. The loaf should be golden in colour and firm to the touch in the middle. Baste with honey while still warm.
        5. Allow to cool thoroughly before storing in a cake tin.

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        Recipe details

        Serves: Makes 1 loaf

        Prep time: 8 hr

        10 mins

        Cook time: 1 hr

        45 mins

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