Irish Tea Bread or Barm Brack

Barm Brack is bread, with a few recipe variations, that is served on Saint Patrick’s Day and Halloween in Ireland. This version, similar to nut bread, is made with dried fruit soaked in tea. With all the amazing blend of tea these days, I can imagine a whole new flavor arena for this bread. I'm a fan of the Tea Garden in Beverly Hills who has this Chocolate Truffle Berry brew that is just like sipping dessert.

• 1 1/2 cups brewed black tea, cold
• 1/2 cups golden raisins
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/4 cup dried black currants
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup packed golden brown sugar
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder

Place tea, raisins, and currants into a bowl. Cover and soak for at least 3 hours or overnight. Drain tea from fruit and reserve 1/2 cup of tea.

Preheat oven to 350F (175C). Butter and flour an 8-inch round pan or a loaf pan.

Beat eggs and sugar in a large bowl until fluffy. Add melted butter and reserved 1/2 cup tea mix well. Sift together flour and baking powder and beat into mixture until. Stir in fruit until throughout. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 40 minutes or until wooden pick inserted into bread comes out clean.

Cool in pan for 5 minutes, and then turn out onto a wire rack.

Transfer to serving platter and cut into wedges or slices.

Photo Credit: elena and dan on Flickr