Welsh Bara Brith

Ingredients

• 2 cups mixed dried fruit (raisins, sultanas and currants)
• 1 cup strong brewed black tea, cooled
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 2 cups self-rising flour
• 1 tsp mixed spice or ground cinnamon
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 tbsp honey, for glazing

Before you cook

• Put the dried fruit and brown sugar in a large bowl.
• Pour the cooled tea over the fruit and sugar and stir to combine.
• Cover and let it soak at room temperature for at least 8 hours or overnight.

Steps

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C).
2. Grease and line a loaf pan with parchment paper.
3. Sift the self-rising flour and mixed spice into the soaked fruit mixture.
4. Stir in the beaten egg.
5. Mix everything together until just combined into a thick batter.
6. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and level the top.
7. Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes, until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. Remove the loaf from the oven and brush the top with honey while still warm.
9. Let the loaf cool in the pan for 15 minutes.
10. Turn it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
11. Slice thickly and serve spread with butter.