Tea soaked fruits are baked up in a whole wheat quick bread for a delicious breakfast or tea time treat. Irish tea brack is perfect for St Patrick’s Day or any day!
This fun recipe is a cross between a coffee cake and a quick sweet bread. It is loaded with dried fruits and whole grains. It reminds me a little bit of Raisin Bran in cake form.
I am telling you, it is so good. It is perfect for tea time or a yummy breakfast.
Top ‘o the morning to you! Now that it is March, it seems like a few Irish recipes are in order. I think everyone has a favorite way of doing corned beef and cabbage, so I didn’t want to go right there.
I always love trying something a little bit different and fun. So, this brack seemed like a wonderful option.
If you haven’t heard of tea brack before, you are not alone. You should certainly get familiar though!
A brack is a fruit filled breakfast cake that goes great with a hot mug of tea or coffee. It looks like it might be too sweet, but it really isn’t.
It has a texture similar to a quick bread, but doesn’t have any of the butter or oil. In some ways, it reminds me of a bran muffin.
You do have to start this relatively early if you want to make it all at once. You want the raisins and dates to soak in the tea for a while to become plump.
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There is no reason why you couldn’t soak them overnight in the fridge to speed up the process in the morning. Then all you would have to do is stir in the rest of the ingredients and bake it. Easy peasy!
The brack is good served while still warm, but is also great at room temperature. Have it for breakfast.
Have it for a snack with a glass of milk or some tea. Heck have it for dinner, nobody is watching!
Storage
Keep your tea brack in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. Wrap it in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer bag in the freezer for longer storage.
For another great twist on a fruity quick bread, try grandma’s date nut loaves. They are baked in can for a cool retro twist!
Irish Tea Brack
Ingredients
- 1 cup brewed hot tea
- 2 cups raisins
- 1½ cups dates chopped
- ¾ cup light brown sugar packed
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 Tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
Instructions
- Pour 1 cup brewed hot tea over 2 cups raisins and 1½ cups dates. Let sit for at least 45 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure all the fruit has a chance to soften and plump. You could do this the night before and let soak in the fridge overnight.
- In a large bowl, mix the ¾ cup light brown sugar, 2 cups whole wheat flour, 1 Tablespoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt and fruit along with any liquid they were soaking in.
- Stir in the 1 large egg until everything is uniformly incorporated.
- Spread in a greased 8″ round cake pan and sprinkle with 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar. Bake in a preheated 325°F oven for 60-70 minutes.
- Turn brack out of pan and cool on a wire rack.
Video
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Hi Carlee, I have never heard of a brack before. It looks like a light fruitcake, but made with wholemeal flour. This is another cake I'm going to have to try, just as soon as I've had a go at that chocolate cake you shared last week. Too many cakes and not enough days!
xx
Tell me about it. So many cakes, so little time! 😉
Oh I love this! Dried fruit soaked in tea? Right up my alley.
It is really quite good and unlike anything I had made before!
Love it!! I am going to have to make this for St. Paddy's Day! Happy THrowback Thursday!!
Mollie
Thanks, Mollie! This was a really fun one to try! I need to get some dates so I can make it again.
This is the best excuse ever to have cake for breakfast!
And it is so good.
I like these kind of breads a lot, this recipe is lovely.
Laura@Baking in Pyjamas
We really enjoyed it. We may have to make another one for breakfast on Tuesday! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
I love this recipe. It tastes wonderful.
We really enjoy it.
What a tasty way to start the day!
It is really good. My aunt says she had something very similar when she visited Ireland a few years ago.
We love fruity quick breads like this. So good!
Thanks!
Swoon! I haven't been able to cook for St. Pat's so I am LOVING your recipes. I was unfamiliar with brack–this recipe would work year-round or anytime the cook needed a little comfort.
We really enjoyed it! I hope you get a chance to make something fun for St. Pat's!
Cake for breakfast? I am so there!!!
And it has whole grains and fruit, so you can tell yourself it's healthy!