Picture
Caption: an autumn tea cake Irish Barmbrack
Picture
Caption: Irish barmbrack, or speckled bread, is a spiced cake with fruit and black tea usually made in late autumn.
Picture
Caption: Traditionally, the cake would contain a ring, cloth, coin, and bean to tell fortune of those who ate it.
The ring symbolized marriage, the cloth poverty, the coin wealth, and the bean spinsterhood.
(I left them out of the batter, to avoid breaking someone's teeth!)
Picture
Picture
Caption: Ingredients 1 cup raisins or dried currants
½ cup dried cherries or cranberries
1 ½ cups strong black tea, cooled
4 tablespoons candied citrus peel (you can substitute 1 tablespoon freshly grated orange zest)
¼ cup dark brown sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
⅓ cup vegetable oil
Picture
Caption: 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
¼ cup honey
1 tablespoon hot water
Picture
Caption: Directions Combine the dried fruit, black tea, and citrus peel in a large bowl. Let sit for about two hours, so that the fruit re-hydrates and absorbs the tea.
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease a 9x5x3 inch loaf tin with vegetable oil. (Or line the tin with parchment paper).
Picture
Caption: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, egg, egg yolk, and vegetable oil. Mix in the dried fruit and peel along with the tea they have been soaking in. Mix in the spices, followed by the flour and baking powder.
Pour the batter into the loaf tin, and bake for about 40 to 50 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
Picture
Caption: Mix together the honey and hot water, and pour it over the top of the cake while it is still warm. Let cool for at least 15 minutes. Cut some generous slices and serve!
Picture
Picture
Caption: For more recipes, visit http://www.passthecocoa.com
https://instagram.com/passthecocoa/
#stellerfood #ireland