Try a twist on bara brith – the classic Welsh teacake – made with chocolate, orange and ginger. It’s perfect for celebrating St David’s Day
Prep:10 mins
Serves 8-10
3 strong black teabags300g dried mixed fruitbutter, for the tin180g dark brown soft sugar4-5 balls of stem ginger, roughly chopped100g dark chocolate, chopped2 tsp marmalade2 drops of orange essence, or use 1 orange, zested1 medium egg, beaten230g self-raising flour½ tsp mixed spice1 tsp ground cinnamonpinch of ground ginger
STEP 1Drop the teabags into a heatproof jug, pour over 350ml boiling water from the kettle and leave to brew for 5 mins. Tip the dried fruit into a large heatproof bowl and pour over the hot tea. Cover and soak overnight.STEP 2Heat the oven to 170C/150C fan/gas 3. Butter a 2lb loaf tin and line with baking parchment. Scatter the sugar over the soaked fruit and stir to dissolve. Add the ginger, chocolate, marmalade, orange essence, egg, flour, a pinch of salt and all the spices, then mix to a thick batter.STEP 3Scrape into the tin and bake for 1 hr 15 mins. Leave in the tin for 10 mins, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool.STEP 4To decorate, melt the chocolate in short bursts in the microwave, or in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, ensuring the bowl doesn’t touch the water. If you’re making the dried peel, peel the oranges and cut the peel into strips. Press dry with a kitchen towel, then scatter over a baking tray and bake at 90C or your oven’s lowest setting for 3 hrs, checking every 45 mins. Leave to cool. Drizzle the chocolate over the loaf and scatter with the peel.
