Irish Fruit Tea Brack

This is a recipe I’ve been meaning to try for a long time. I’m not a big fan of fruit breads and cakes, but the family would eat it until it comes out of their ears. So I gave it a go for their sake and since it is an Irish favourite. :)

Tea Brack or Barmbrack is a bready cakey loaf that is traditionally linked with Halloween in Ireland. Barmbrack, also known as Báirín Breac in Irish translates to speckled bread. I’m sure you can figure out why.

There are a lot of different stories out there about the Brack, but all I know is that it has been enjoyed in Ireland for years upon years. The recipe I used is also a traditional one, it is slightly different from the Brack you will see in the shops as there is no yeast used to expand it therefore it is smaller and more like a scone texture.


 In this recipe I used tea but if you want to Irish it up a bit use half tea and half whiskey when soaking the fruit. Whiskey also preserves the bread for longer usually lasting a week, though in my house it doesn’t last 2 days :)

What you will need:

225g - Self raising flour
170g - Brown sugar
150ml - Boiling water
1 - Tea bag (any flavour)
1 – Egg (beaten)
350g - Mixed dry fruit
1tsp – Bicarbonate of soda

Method:

1. In a bowl mix together the fruit and sugar. Create tea from the tea bag and water and add it to the mix. Mix well and leave to stand over night, or if you are impatient 2-3 hrs will also do.
2. When the fruit has been steeped pre heat the oven to 160, gas mark 3.
3. Mix up the fruit mixture again (as some sugar might sink to the bottom) and add the beaten egg.
4. Slowly add the flour and then mix until smooth.
5. Grease up a loaf tin (900g/2lb) and add your mixture.
6. Place in the oven and leave for 1 and a half hours or until brown and bouncy :)

And that’s it enjoy…