Yorkshire Barm Brack Fruit Cake Recipe

Name: Traditional Yorkshire Barm Brack
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 150 min
Total time: 180 min
Ingredients: 1 lb./450 g. dried fruit - sultanas, currants, and raisins; 4 oz./125 g. candied peel, (chopped); 4 oz./125 g. glace cherries (halved); 10 fl oz./300 mL cold, strong, black "Yorkshire" or other tea; 5½ oz./150 g. butter (slightly softened); /5½ oz./150 g. soft, dark brown sugar; 3 large eggs; 8 oz./225 g. all purpose/plain flour; 2 tsp. baking powder; 2 tbsp. dark treacle/molasses; 3 fl oz./100 mL whiskey; 1 tsp. freshly ground nutmeg; 2 tsp. lemon juice; 4 oz./110 g. ground almonds

Prep: 30 mins

Cook: 2 hrs 30 mins

Total: 3 hrs

Servings: 6 servings

Yield: 1 cake

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Yorkshire brack is not dissimilar to a rich fruit cake but with a stronger tea infusion and a little whiskey (optional). Brack, just like Irish barm brack is a perfect tea time cake (or any other time you choose) spread with a little butter. The success of a Yorkshire brack depends on the soaking the dried mixed fruits in a strong, preferably Yorkshire tea the night before. The addition of the tea adds a subtle depth of flavor and moisture to the cake. For this reason, you will need a little planning to allow time for soaking the fruits. It is worth it, though, so don't be put off.

1 pound (450 grams) dried fruit, such as sultanas, raisins, currants
4 ounces (125 grams) candied fruit peel, chopped
4 ounces candied cherries, halved
10 ounces (300 milliliters) strong black tea, Yorkshire or other, cold
5 1/2 ounces (150 grams) unsalted butter, slightly softened
5 1/2 ounces (150 grams) soft dark brown sugar
8 ounces (225 grams) all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
3 large eggs
2 tablespoons molasses, or dark treacle
3 ounces (100 milliliters) whiskey
1 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons lemon juice
4 ounces (110 grams) ground almonds

Gather the ingredients.
Place all the dried fruits in a large bowl, pour the tea over, stir well, then cover with a tea towel and leave overnight.
Preheat the oven to 325 F/ 170 C/ Gas 3.
Line a 22-centimeter/8 1/2-inch cake tin with greaseproof paper or baking parchment and grease lightly with a little butter.
Place both the butter and dark brown sugar into a roomy baking bowl. Cream the butter into the sugar until light, smooth, and creamy using either a fork or electric hand whisk.
Mix the flour with the baking powder. Beat 1 egg into the creamed butter, then beat in a third of the flour. Repeat until all the eggs and flour are used up.
Finally, gently stir in the molasses, whiskey, nutmeg, and lemon juice to the cake mixture using a spoon or spatula.
Drain the dried fruits of the tea and add the ground almonds. Stir well, then add to the cake mixture, again stirring gently until all the fruits are incorporated into the mixture. Make sure you do stir gently so as not to "flatten" the cake mixture.
Spoon the mixture into the prepared cake tin and gently level the surface. Cook in the preheated oven for 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until dark golden brown.
Remove the cake from the oven and place on a cooling rack and leave the cake to cool in the tin. Once cooled it is ready to eat. The cake keeps well when stored in an airtight tin.

Tip

You can use a prepared dried fruit mixture available in most supermarkets, or blend your own to create an individual cake to your preferences.

Recipe Variation

Instead of whiskey use a little brandy or rum.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
956	Calories
34g	Fat
151g	Carbs
13g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories	956
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 34g	43%
Saturated Fat 15g	75%
Cholesterol 149mg	50%
Sodium 402mg	17%
Total Carbohydrate 151g	55%
Dietary Fiber 9g	34%
Total Sugars 96g
Protein 13g
Vitamin C 3mg	14%
Calcium 230mg	18%
Iron 5mg	30%
Potassium 953mg	20%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.