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!

First slice of Irish tea brack being lifted out of round cakelike loaf, showing lots of fruit in the interior.

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.

Irish tea brack ingredients including bowl of flour and sugar, raisins and dates soaking in tea, tea bags, sugar and an egg ready to be made into batter.

Whole round Irish tea brack with sugar crusted top on glass cake plate ready to serve.

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.

slice of raisin and date filled Irish tea brack on plate with grapes and strawberries.

slice of tea brack cake with raisins and dates on plate with fork, bite missing.

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.

Close slice of Irish tea brack with soft brown bready interior dotted with loads of plumped up raisins and dates.

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!

4.92 from 23 ratings

Irish Tea Brack

Author: Carlee

Servings: Servings

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.

Prep: 10

Cook: 1

Additional Time 45

Total: 1 55

Ingredients

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.