Friday, February 5, 2010

'Brack' Irish Tea Cake

Just a short interim post today with a recipe I would like to share with you.
This is very similar to the Tea bread that I remember Wendy making, I was inspired to make this after Ruth and Stuart brought the whiskey loaf with them a Christmas, (which I said in a previous post)!!. After a little searching I found this recipe and it worked out just as I remembered it :)

Ingredients
300ml cold tea (no milk)
4 tsp Irish Whiskey (although I'm sure any would do!)
110g Sultana's
220g Currants or Raisins
55g Chopped Glace Cherries
55g Chopped mixed candied peel
200g Brown Sugar
225g Self-raising Flour
1 Egg (Beaten)
1tsp Mixed Spice

Method
1. Place the cold tea and whiskey in a bowl. Add the dried fruit, cover and set aside to soak overnight.
2. Preheat oven to 180 C /Gas 4
3. In a mixing bowl, mix together the sugar, flour, egg spice and soaked fruit (with soaking liquid) until well mixed.
4. Transfer to a lined loaf tin (1 1/2 to 2lb tin)
5. Bake for approx 1 1/2 hours (depending on oven)!!
6. Remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes in the tin, then turn out on a wire rack.
7. Store in airtight container.

Enjoy with a nice cuppa!!
If you can't get the self-raising flour and using all purpose flour instead then substitute approx 4tsps flour with baking powder.... this is only a guess though but should lighten it just enough (hopefully).
Sorry I don't have a picture for it.... maybe next time I make it I will remember to take one and add it here!

Back later with more updates :)