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How to Make Irish Tea Cake (Barmbrack) - A Step-by-Step Guide

Irish Tea Cake, also known as Barmbrack, is a traditional Irish sweet bread that is often enjoyed with a cup of tea. This delicious and moist cake is filled with dried fruits and spices, giving it a unique and rich flavor. Barmbrack has been a staple in Irish households for generations, and its versatility makes it perfect for any occasion, whether it's a casual tea time treat or a special St. Patrick's Day celebration.

One of the best things about Barmbrack is its simplicity. With ju...

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Ingredients

  • 2 Irish breakfast tea bags
  • 2 cups boiling water
  • ¼ cup dried currants
  • ½ cup dried cherries
  • ½ cup golden raisins
  • 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup spelt flour
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ cup light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
  • 1 tablespoon Irish whiskey
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 6 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 2 teaspoons honey, or to taste

Information

  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 45 mins
  • Additional Time: 2 hrs 10 mins
  • Total Time: 3 hrs 5 mins
  • Servings: 8
  • Yield: 1 9x5-inch loaf

  • Place tea bags in a heatproof measuring cup. Pour in boiling water and let steep for 5 minutes. Remove tea bags and let cool until barely warm.
  • Combine currants, cherries, and raisins in a bowl. Pour warm tea over the fruit. Let sit for 2 hours. Drain fruit, reserving 2 to 4 tablespoons of the tea.
  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Thoroughly butter a 9x5-inch loaf pan and line with buttered parchment paper.
  • Whisk flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves together in a large bowl. Make a well in the center. Add brown sugar, egg, milk, reserved tea, lemon and orange zest, whiskey, vanilla, and butter. Mix until flour is mostly incorporated. Stir in fruit until just combined.
  • Spread batter into the prepared loaf pan. Tap pan against the counter.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Drizzle honey over the top. Let cool in the pan before slicing.

    • Nutrition

    316 cal.

    • Total Fat: 10g
    • Saturated Fat: 6g
    • Cholesterol: 47mg
    • Sodium: 570mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 51g
    • Dietary Fiber: 3g
    • Total Sugars: 22g
    • Protein: 6g
    • Vitamin C: 3mg
    • Calcium: 97mg
    • Iron: 2mg
    • Potassium: 192mg

    Categories

    Bread recipes
    Cake recipes
    Irish recipes
    Tea recipes