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5.0 from 15 votes

Irish barmbrack (fruit loaf)

This fruit loaf (barmbrack/ Irish brack) is an incredibly easy classic tea-time treat; moist and delicious.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 15 mins
Total Time
1 hr 45 mins
Servings: 12 slices,
Calories: 136 kcal
Course: Snacks
Cuisine: British

Ingredients

  • 8 oz mixed fruit (see notes)
  • 1 cup black tea cold
  • ¾ cup soft brown sugar
  • 1 egg lightly beaten
  • 8 oz self raising flour or 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour plus 2 ¼tsp baking powder and a ¼ tsp, rounded, of salt

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Put the fruit into a bowl with the tea and sugar, stir to dissolve sugar and leave to soak overnight.
  2. Preheat oven to 325F/160C and grease and/or line a loaf tin (approx 8 ½ x 4 ½in/ 21 x 11cm, sometimes called a 1lb tin).
  3. Add the egg and the flour (or flour, baking powder and salt) to the fruit and tea mixture and mix until combined but try not to overmix.
  4. Tip the mixture into the prepared loaf tin, smooth the top a little and bake for 1 ½hours.

Notes

  • If you can't find mixed fruit (UK-style, as discussed further above) then I suggest using 7oz/200g mix of raisins, golden raisins (sultanas), currants - any 2 is good or all 3 (should come to around 1 ¼ cups) - and 1oz/30g chopped candied peel or dried papaya (around 2tbsp). If using papaya, make sure you cut it very small as it does swell up quite a lot. Some mixed fruit has glace cherries in the mix - personally I don't like them in this but to your own taste.
  • 7oz/200g mix of raisins, golden raisins (sultanas), currants - any 2 is good or all 3 (should come to around 1 ¼ cups) - and 1oz/30g chopped candied peel or dried papaya (around 2tbsp). If using papaya, make sure you cut it very small as it does swell up quite a lot. Some mixed fruit has glace cherries in the mix - personally I don't like them in this but to your own taste.
  • You can also use a slightly larger loaf tin for this (as in some of the photos, I use a 9x5in (23x13cm) tin), it will just give a slightly shallower loaf. Be aware the loaf does rise quite a bit in baking.

Nutrition Information

Calories 136kcal (7%) Carbohydrates 30g (10%) Protein 2g (4%) Cholesterol 13mg (4%) Sodium 10mg (0%) Potassium 66mg (2%) Sugar 15g (30%) Vitamin A 75IU (2%) Vitamin C 0.4mg (0%) Calcium 17mg (2%) Iron 0.4mg (2%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12slices,

Amount Per Serving

Calories 136

% Daily Value*

Calories 136kcal 7%
Carbohydrates 30g 10%
Protein 2g 4%
Cholesterol 13mg 4%
Sodium 10mg 0%
Potassium 66mg 1%
Sugar 15g 30%
Vitamin A 75IU 2%
Vitamin C 0.4mg 0%
Calcium 17mg 2%
Iron 0.4mg 2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.