Sometimes you just crave a loaf of freshly baked bread loaded with sweet dried fruits and warm spices. Tea Brack is a delicious quick bread made with loads of dried fruit soaked in black tea with an optional splash of whisky or whiskey (depending if you are using Irish or Scotch spirits).
Treat yourself and your family and bake up a loaf of fruity Tea Brack to enjoy for breakfast, dessert or with a nice cup of tea.
According to my latest Ancestry DNA analysis, I am 25% Scottish, which threw me for a loop because according to family lore (and research) my mom's family came from Ireland before the American Revolution. Checking my history books I am guessing we are Ulster Scot, aka Scotch Irish (old timey term), Scots who migrated to Northern Ireland and then eventually headed to the US.
Tea Brack is kind of like me, with heritage in both Ireland and Scotland and a combination of the two because food often ignores man made boundaries.
Warning! This is a quick bread, meaning it does not use yeast and need to rise, but you need to let the fruit soak at least 4 hours, up to overnight. And it takes an hour to bake. An hour of delicious torture as your home is filled with the most wonderful aroma. Sigh!
What kind of dried fruit should you use for Tea Brack?
Traditionally it was probably raisins, currants and golden raisins.
But you can use whatever you like best.
This is a great way to use up the dried fruit that has become to dry to enjoy otherwise. I threw in raisins, dates, dried plums, cranberries, cherries, and mangoes that were hardening in the back of the pantry and I might have otherwise thrown in the trash. After a good soak they were amazing!
What kind of tea should you use for Tea Brack?
Traditionally it is black tea, probably Earl Grey or English Breakfast.
But, you can use whatever you like best. As my son would say, "you said that already".
Just as you can vary the taste with using different fruits, you can also vary the flavor of the Brack with different teas. I used Nutcracker Sweet from Celestial Seasonings (not a sponsor) because it has accents of warm spices that went wonderfully in this.
More #SummerGamesWeek Recipes
Welcome to #SummerGamesWeek 2021 hosted by Amy from House of Nash Eats! We are celebrating the start of the Tokyo Games with over 50 recipes representing more than 25 countries competing in the upcoming Summer Games! Come join me and my fellow Summer Games Week bloggers as we bring you recipes from appetizers to drinks to entrΓ©es and desserts!
I chose to represent my family's heritage with my recipe choices this week:
Mititei on Monday - mini beef sausages from Romania (my father in law)
Fried Polenta on Tuesday - cornmeal cakes from Italy (my dad's father)
Chocolate Walnut Torte on Thursday - from Hungary (my mother in law)
Tomates Farcies on Friday - stuffed tomatoes from France (my dad's mother)
And here are even more recipes from some of my favorite bloggers:
Wednesday #SummerGamesWeek Recipes
- Fluffy Japanese Pancakes representing Japan by House of Nash Eats
- Hokey Pokey representing New Zealand by Simply Inspired Meals
- Crepes representing France by Lemon Blossoms
- German Pancakes representing Germany by Devour Dinner
- Japanese Royal Milk Tea representing Japan by Hezzi-Dβs Books and Cooks
- Beef Empanadas representing Argentina by Take Two Tapas
- Steakhouse Burritos representing the USA by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Air Fried Biscuits and Cocoa Tea representing St. Lucia by Our Good Life
- Japanese Steakhouse Ginger Miso Dressing representing Japan by Palatable Pastime
- Tea Brack representing Scotland and Ireland by That Recipe
- Korean Strawberry Milk representing Korea by Magical Ingredients
- Vegetable Fried Rice for One representing China by The Spiffy Cookie
- Scottish Raspberry Buns representing the United Kingdom by The Redhead Baker
- Swedish Pancakes representing Sweden by Art of Natural Living
Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups dried fruit (raisins, currants, cranberries, plums, apricots, dates, etc.)
- ΒΎ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 ΒΌ cups hot black tea (brewed)
- splash whiskey (or whisky) (optional)
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon Mixed Spice (see note)
- 1 large egg (beaten)
Instructions
- Combine the fruit, brown sugar and orange zest in a mixing bowl. Add hot tea and whiskey, if using. Stir well, cover and let soak for 4 hours or longer (up to overnight).
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a loaf pan and set aside.
- Add the flour, baking powder, spice and egg to the soaked fruit mixture, stirring until moistened.
- Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about an hour.
- Let cool in loaf pan. Slice while still warm and serve with butter.
Notes
Sound fabulous? Share it!
Until next time, happy eating!
~Audrey
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