Traditional bara brith recipe
 This bara brith is made the traditional way using fresh yeast. Most supermarket with their own in-store bakery will sell, or sometimes give away, fresh yeast. 450g/1lb strong white flour7g salt 20g/¾oz fresh yeast75g/2½oz butter, plus extra for greasing and to serve50g/1¾oz brown sugar2 tsp mixed spice 350g/12oz mixed dried fruit, such as raisins, currants, sultanas and cranberries1 free-range egg 225ml/8fl oz strong warm teaoil, for greasingbutter, to serve (optional) 450g/1lb strong white flour 7g salt 20g/¾oz fresh yeast 75g/2½oz butter, plus extra for greasing and to serve 50g/1¾oz brown sugar 2 tsp mixed spice 350g/12oz mixed dried fruit, such as raisins, currants, sultanas and cranberries 1 free-range egg 225ml/8fl oz strong warm tea oil, for greasing butter, to serve (optional) 50g/1¾oz caster sugar 50g/1¾oz caster sugar Method Place the flour, salt and yeast in a large mixing bowl and then rub in the butter using your fingers until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Mix in the sugar, mixed spice and dried fruit until evenly distributed. Add the egg and tea and bring the mixture together to form a dough. Knead on a clean work surface until smooth. Place back in the bowl, cover with oiled cling film and leave until doubled in size - at least one hour.Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan/400F/Gas 6 and grease a 900g/2lb loaf tin.Knock back the dough, then shape it and fit it into the loaf tin. Cover again with oiled cling film and prove for a further 30 minutes. Remove the cling film and bake in the centre of the oven for 20 minutes. Cover the bara brith with aluminium foil and continue to bake for a further 25 minutes. Remove from the oven, turn it out of the tin and leave to cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes. For the sugar syrup, bring 50ml/1¾fl oz of water and the sugar to the boil in a small saucepan and cook until syrupy. Remove from the heat and brush the loaf with the glaze. Leave to cool completely before cutting. Serve in slices with butter, if you like Place the flour, salt and yeast in a large mixing bowl and then rub in the butter using your fingers until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Mix in the sugar, mixed spice and dried fruit until evenly distributed. Place the flour, salt and yeast in a large mixing bowl and then rub in the butter using your fingers until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Mix in the sugar, mixed spice and dried fruit until evenly distributed. Add the egg and tea and bring the mixture together to form a dough. Knead on a clean work surface until smooth. Place back in the bowl, cover with oiled cling film and leave until doubled in size - at least one hour. Add the egg and tea and bring the mixture together to form a dough. Knead on a clean work surface until smooth. Place back in the bowl, cover with oiled cling film and leave until doubled in size - at least one hour. Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan/400F/Gas 6 and grease a 900g/2lb loaf tin. Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan/400F/Gas 6 and grease a 900g/2lb loaf tin. Knock back the dough, then shape it and fit it into the loaf tin. Cover again with oiled cling film and prove for a further 30 minutes. Remove the cling film and bake in the centre of the oven for 20 minutes. Knock back the dough, then shape it and fit it into the loaf tin. Cover again with oiled cling film and prove for a further 30 minutes. Remove the cling film and bake in the centre of the oven for 20 minutes. Cover the bara brith with aluminium foil and continue to bake for a further 25 minutes. Remove from the oven, turn it out of the tin and leave to cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Cover the bara brith with aluminium foil and continue to bake for a further 25 minutes. Remove from the oven, turn it out of the tin and leave to cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes. For the sugar syrup, bring 50ml/1¾fl oz of water and the sugar to the boil in a small saucepan and cook until syrupy. Remove from the heat and brush the loaf with the glaze. Leave to cool completely before cutting. Serve in slices with butter, if you like For the sugar syrup, bring 50ml/1¾fl oz of water and the sugar to the boil in a small saucepan and cook until syrupy. Remove from the heat and brush the loaf with the glaze. Leave to cool completely before cutting. Serve in slices with butter, if you like