I was gonna pack this post with as many random references to Wales as possible but decided in the end that I couldn’t be bothered… boyo.
With the majority of my family hailing from Cwmbran and its surrounding valleys, I know a thing or two about eating Welsh delicacies (and the Pontypool Front Row) and with that being said, I thought it was high time I had a go at concocting a Bara Brith.
I love it because it’s such a store cupboard recipe… I didn’t have to go shopping for any of the ingredients and it was in the oven within 20 minutes.
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of mixed, dried fruit (I use dates too)
1 cup of strong tea
2tsp of mixed spice
1oz of butter/margarine
2 cups of self-raising flour
1 medium/large eggPlace the sugar, dried fruit, tea, mixed spice and margarine into a pan and slowly bring to the boil, stirring all the time.
Once the mixture has cooled, add the flour and egg whilst beating the mixture together before pouring it into a loaf tin (greased and floured) and baking at around 170 degrees celsius (fan oven) for an hour. At this point, insert a knife or skewer… if it comes out clear, you’re done. If not, leave for another 10 minutes before checking again.
Let it cool on a wire rack and cut into slices, served with thick butter!
Then kiss goodbye to your diet…
That looks verrry nice. What is mixed spice, though? cardamon, cumin, cinnamon…? 🙂
Hi Katrine,
Mixed Spice is um mixed spice… read here for what they put in it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed_spice xx
“Then kiss goodbye to you diet..”
Hahahha LMAO that’s exactly what’s gonna happen! 😉
looks gorgeous!!! but would actually eat without the butter.
woah you were not kidding me when you said ‘thick butter’
wouldnt you just be left of nothing but buttery taste in your mouth after all that?
i thought it was cheese at first xx
Oi! – who made you judge and jury of butter-loving? It was cold and unspreadable straight out of the fridge. I did the best I could with a blunt knife. Plus. I really like butter 😉
Lol, I thought it was cheese too! btw, is the “strong tea” listed in the ingredient list included in the recipe, or just to drink along with the bread when it is done? I thought you were supposed to pour it in the batter but I don’t see it in the instructions? what’s nice about this is you can choose what kind of dried fruit to use, mmmm!
Hi Ash!
“Place the sugar, dried fruit, TEA, mixed spice and margarine into a pan and slowly bring to the boil,”
You whack the tea in the pan with the rest of the ingredients, saves soaking the fruit in it xx
Oooops, sorry, don’t know how I overlooked that! I was very sleepy when I was reading it though. I have since taken a nap, and am much fresher!
haha no worries! x
As much as I want to embrace my Welsh heritage I just can’t get into B.B – it just doesn’t do it for me 🙁
bara brith seems really similar to that fruity bread..i think it’s called malt loaf? looks nice anyway 🙂