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Irish Tea Brack

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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.

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

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.

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.

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.  The flavor reminds me of a bowl of raisin bran in cake form.

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

It kind of makes me want to eat it with milk and a spoon! But really it is great on it’s own with a cup of coffee.

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.

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!

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

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!

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!

Close slice of Irish tea brack with soft brown bready interior dotted with loads of plumped up raisins and dates.
First slice of Irish tea brack being lifted out of round cakelike loaf, showing lots of fruit in the interior.

Irish Tea Brack

Carlee
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.
4.92 from 23 ratings
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Additional Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 55 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 12 Servings
Calories 253 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup brewed hot tea
  • 2 cups raisins
  • 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 hot tea over raisins and 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.
    1 cup brewed hot tea, 2 cups raisins, 1½ cups dates
  • In a large bowl, mix the brown sugar, flour, baking powder, salt and fruit along with any liquid they were soaking in.
    ¾ cup light brown sugar, 2 cups whole wheat flour, 1 Tablespoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt
  • Stir in the egg until everything is uniformly incorporated.
    1 large egg
  • Spread in a greased 8″ round cake pan and sprinkle with granulated sugar. Bake in a preheated 325°F oven for 60-70 minutes.
    1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
  • Turn brack out of pan and cool on a wire rack.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 253kcalCarbohydrates: 62gProtein: 4gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.2gTrans Fat: 0.002gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 220mgPotassium: 423mgFiber: 5gSugar: 26gVitamin A: 23IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 93mgIron: 2mg
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Recipe Rating




Ann

Friday 16th of September 2022

Could you make this with AP flour instead of whole wheat?

Carlee

Friday 16th of September 2022

Yes, that should work. All purpose flour absorbs slightly less moisture than whole wheat, but I think a 1:1 substitution should still work pretty well in this recipe.

Sandy

Monday 15th of March 2021

Yum. And I think it looks pretty with the sugar on top

Carlee

Tuesday 16th of March 2021

It does add a little panache to it, don't you think?

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com

Sunday 29th of April 2018

That sounds delightful! I would cut it into 16 pieces, though. Just a small wedge and a cup of tea, please!

Carlee

Tuesday 1st of May 2018

I admire your self control! It would be perfect with a nice cup of tea!

Carlee

Saturday 25th of March 2017

Hooray! Thank you!

Jamie

Thursday 23rd of March 2017

That sounds amazing! Pinning the recipe to try out at my next party. :)

Carlee

Saturday 25th of March 2017

Thank you, I hope you love it!