Showing posts with label welsh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label welsh. Show all posts

Sunday, 9 February 2014

Traditional Welsh Bara Brith Fruit Cake Recipe



Bara Brith Recipe


Another traditional Welsh recipe I love making is Bara Brith. It is a very old traditional native dish, with recipes being passed down for generations. This is one such recipe! Unfortunately I did not get the chance to meet my grandmother, someone who I've been compared to on so many occasions. Even so, she has inspired me in many ways, from her delicious baking recipes to her classy ladylike ways of never going out without your face on! This recipe was given to me by my mother, on a small piece of paper written in my grandmother's lovely swirled writing, and I now wish to share with you to try for yourself! A sweet spongy loaf filled with warm spices and dried mixed fruits, this is a great comfort food and perfect for tea parties!


Wales at it's finest.


As with all traditional recipes, there are many variations to make Bara Brith. Some require soaking the dried fruit in tea for 30 minutes beforehand, while others use different sugars and spices. For me however, this recipe has produced the most traditional flavour and texture, and has earned the most compliments everytime I've baked it. (This recipe also happens to be the first baking order I received!). Using only 7 ingredients, it really is a simple but delicious treat, ready in approx. 1 1/2 hours (cooking time).


Fruit and cake have never been more well-acquainted!

Love cake? Love warm spices and fruits encased in a baked sweet spongy loaf?! Of course you do! This is definately my favourite dessert, served warm and smothered in butter with a nice hot mug of tea!
Being that a very important date in the Welsh calendar is coming up in less than a month (1st of March!), why not try baking some of this Welsh Bara Brith along with some Authentic Welsh Cakes to celebrate all that is Welsh on St David's Day!




Ingredients

For the Loaf:
4oz Butter or Margarine
1 cup Granulated Sugar
1 cup Milk
1 Egg
12oz Self-Raising Flour
1 packet Mixed Dried Fruits (e.g raisins, sultanas, cranberries, small dried apple, candied orange peel etc)
2 to 3 teaspoon Mixed Spice

For the Sugar Glaze:
2 to 3 Tsp Brown Sugar (I used Demerara, although any brown sugar would work)
Approx. 50 ml Hot Water
Additional Brown or Granulated Sugar to sprinkle on top (Optional)
Directions

  • Preheat an oven to 190°C.
  • Grease a loaf tin (alternatively, you may use a cake tin although this will make it more cake like and take less time to bake).
  • In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and well mixed.
  • Beat in the egg and add the milk.
  • Mix in the flour with a spoon and add the mixed spices, stirring until well mixed.
  • Mix in the dried fruit (don't worry about adding too much, it is meant to be very well packed with fruit).
  • Bake for approx. 1 hour 30 min (until brown / slightly blackened and firm / crispy on top).
  • In a small saucepan, combine 2 to 3 teaspoons of brown sugar with hot water and heat until the sugar is partially melted. Drizzle over the cake.
  • Place back into the oven for approx. 5 to 10 mins (until the sugar is glazed on top).

Tips & Serving ideas

  • Serve warm thick slices with a thick layer of good quality butter and a cup of tea!
  • Sprinkle cinnamon or nutmeg on top before baking.
  • Add some nuts or orange zest/juice to the mixture.
  • Serve with honey, jam or marmalade.







                


Cara X

Wednesday, 22 January 2014

Welsh Cakes Recipe

Authentic Welsh Cakes Recipe

Being Welsh, the family have always loved these native cakes as a treat, especially on cold wintery nights! Although a little like scones, they are lighter, and smaller, and have a more fruity and baked flavour. While scones seem (to me anyway!) more of a Spring dessert, I have always associated Welsh Cakes with Winter and the very beginning of Spring (due to March 1st being the patron St.David's national day!). Speaking to those from other countries, I've been surprised to find not only that they were not familiar with the dessert (of course every country have their takes on different desserts) but that they were not very aware of the country of Wales in itself. In these cases, that's when I get my spatula out and start cooking up some of these babies! For March 1st this year, why not have a go yourself at making these delicious fruit cakes and see for yourself? You might just find yourself eating 2 or 3...or 6.


Ingredients


230g Self-Raising Flour
120g Butter 
85g Granulated Sugar
1 Medium Egg
A Handful each of Raisins/Sultanas
A few splashes of Milk (as needed)
Optional;
Mixed Spice
Cinnamon
Nutmeg

Directions

  • In a large bowl, rub the flour into the butter using your fingertips until the mixture looks like fine breadcrumbs.
  • With a spoon, combine the sugar.
  • Whisk in the egg and add the dried fruit.
  • Combine the mixture, firstly with a spoon, until it begins to collect together. Use your hands to form a dough ball. (If the mixture is too dry, add a little milk. If it is too wet, add more flour).
  • Roll out the dough with a rolling pin onto a floured surface to about 1/4 to 1/2 an inch in thickness.
  • Using a cookie cutter, cut out rounds until all the dough is used up.
  • Grease a griddle or frying pan with butter and heat on a medium heat (a too high temperature will cause the cakes to burn on the outside without cooking on the inside).
  • Place 4 to 5 cakes on the pan and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side (until brown) before flipping. (It is helpful here to flip alternatively to evenly cook the cakes without burning the outside).
  • Cook until the outside is brown or slightly black in colour (Many people like these best when slightly burnt.. as do I!).
  • Dust with icing sugar before serving.
Tips & Serving ideas

  • These are delicious warm or cold, but are best when warm!
  • Serve with butter and/or jam.
  • For an autumn and comforting feel, you can add some cinnamon, nutmeg or mixed spice to the mix to give it a little something extra! (In this case, I prefer them with some sliced banana and honey!)

Cara X