Halloween Teabrack...

This is a traditional recipe for a homemade brack we eat at Halloween. Long ago different charms were added to the mixture when cooking and each had symbolic meaning . You can still buy the shop ones every Halloween but I like to make my own. As kids we all wanted to get the "gold" ring which stood for marriage! Other bits added were a pea, bean, stick and a rag. Here is the recipe I always follow when making the Halloween brack (charms are optional)  but add a fun element for children!

Ingredients...

10oz self raising flour

1/2 pint of cold tea

1/2lb mixed fruit (raisins,sultanas)

4 oz caster sugar

2 medium eggs

a pinch of mixed spice

Method...

Place the fruit in a bowl and soak overnight in the tea. Add sugar, flour and mixed spice to this and combine well. Wrap ring and other charms if using in greaseproof  paper and stir into mixture. Transfer to a 2lb loaf tin which is greased and lined. Bake in 170c oven for 1 hour until risen and firm to touch. Cool on a wire tray.

I love it just warm from the oven and spread with a good dollop of butter!