Whilst rummaging through my cupboard the other day, as I often do, the one full of old recipes, mostly hand written on yellowing, scrap pieces of paper, I came across a pretty card with a teddy bear on the front. Inside the card was yet another hand written recipe, sent to my youngest daughter when she was still a little girl.
My auntie, a northern England born and raised lady, had lived for a brief time in Wales. On hearing that my daughter liked cooking she sent her a recipe, which we had never before heard of here in Australia; Welsh Bara Brith.
The note she added with the recipe was very sweet and I will share it with you here ~ “To the little cook of the house, would you like to make a Welsh Bara Brith loaf? I’m sure Mummy would be pleased and it is so easy to make. I’ll write you out the recipe. You would need a 2lb. loaf tin or two 1lb. loaf tins. Use the same cup or beaker all the time”.
After the recipe, she has written, “Slice, eat buttered. Now isn’t that easy? I’m sure you will like it. Let me know. Love, Auntie”.
Well, my daughter did make it and yes, it is easy to make.
My daughter and myself have been quite remiss for some time, neither of us baking Welsh Bara Brith for years, so today I have rectified that oversight!
Welsh Bara Brith
Pre-heat oven to 120-140 degrees C.
Place 2 cups of mixed dried fruit into a large mixing bowl with 1 cup of dark brown sugar and 1 cup of freshly made, strong black tea. Leave to stand overnight. (Note : I simmer the fruit, tea and sugar gently for about ten minutes, with the lid on the saucepan. It plumps up the fruit beautifully!).
The next morning, (or if you boil the fruit, after the mixture has cooled), add 1 whisked egg, 1 tablespoon of marmalade and 2 cups of self raising flour.
Mix together well with a wooden spoon.
Place the mixture into a baking paper lined loaf tin and cook for approximately 2 hours.
You can see by the photo how anxious my twelve year old son, who arrived home from school just as I took this out of the oven, and I were to have a slice of Welsh Bara Brith ~ the butter melted on it, as the loaf was still warm! 🙂
In My World 
This looks very yummy. Will surely give it a try, thank you for the recipe
LikeLike
Hope you like it. 🙂
LikeLike
Sounds delicious!
LikeLike
Yummm! Again…not baking weather for me. It is 95 in the shade and the humidity is stifling! I do not have air conditioning. 😦
LikeLike
That is 35 c for you! 😉
LikeLike
Robin, it is delicious. You will have to try it out when your weather cools down. 🙂
Heather, have a look at Robin’s recipe for Sassy Mint.
You have just the right weather for it now. 🙂
LikeLike