Traditional Welsh Bara Brith Recipe
Bara Brith, a classic Welsh fruit loaf, is a rich, flavorful cake steeped in tradition. This recipe involves soaking dried fruits overnight in strong black tea, resulting in a moist and aromatic loaf. Perfectly spiced and sweetened with marmalade and honey, Bara Brith is best enjoyed with a generous spread of salted butter. It’s a cake that improves with age, making it even more delicious a few days after baking.
Equipment
- 900g loaf tin
- Baking parchment
- Sieve
- spatula
- small pan
- wire rack
Ingredients
For the Bara Brith:
- 200 g raisins
- 100 g sultanas
- 50 g currants
- 100 g glacé cherries
- 100 g dried apricots chopped
- 300 ml hot strong black tea
- 450 g self-raising flour
- 170 g light soft brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground mixed spice
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 tablespoons marmalade
- 1 medium egg
- 3 tablespoons honey
Instructions
Soak the Fruit:
- Place the raisins, sultanas, currants, glacé cherries, and chopped dried apricots in a large mixing bowl.
- Pour the hot strong black tea over the fruit, cover the bowl, and leave to soak for 24 hours.
Prepare the Loaf:
- Preheat the oven to 150°C/Gas Mark 2.
- Grease a 900g loaf tin and line the base and long sides with a sheet of baking parchment.
- Sift the self-raising flour, light soft brown sugar, ground mixed spice, and ground ginger into a large mixing bowl.
- Make a well in the center and add the soaked fruit along with the tea, marmalade, and egg.
- Mix well to combine.
- The mixture will be quite firm and dry.
Bake the Loaf:
- Press the mixture into the prepared loaf tin, leveling the top with a spatula.
- Bake for 1½ hours or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
- After the first hour, check the loaf.
- If it’s browning too much, cover the top loosely with foil to prevent burning.
- Allow the loaf to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before turning it out onto a wire rack.
Finish the Loaf:
- Warm the honey in a small pan until it becomes runny.
- Brush the honey all over the warm loaf, allowing it to soak in.
Serving Suggestion:
- Enjoy the Bara Brith warm with lashings of salted butter or drizzled with extra honey.
- It’s even better after a few days, making it a perfect make-ahead treat.
Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:
Pair with a sweet dessert wine like a Moscato or a cup of Earl Grey tea.
Nutritional Information
Calories: 320 kcal | Carbohydrates: 60 g | Protein: 5 g | Fat: 4 g | Fiber: 3 g | Sugar: 35 g | Salt: 0.3 mg
