Welsh Tea Cake

Ingredients

Serves: 20

• 650ml water
• 425g raisins
• 4 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda
• 340g butter, softened
• 300g caster sugar
• 3 eggs
• 2 tablespoons treacle or honey
• 1 tablespoon vanilla essence
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 500g plain flour

Preparation method

Prep: 30 mins | Cook: 1 hour | Extra time: 30 mins, cooling

1.

Preheat oven to 180 C . Lightly grease two 23x12cm (9x5 in) loaf tins.

2.

Combine water and raisins in a medium saucepan. Bring to the boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in bicarb and let cool.

3.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition. Stir in honey, vanilla and salt. Stir in flour and then beat in raisin mixture until well combined. Spoon batter into prepared tins.

4.

Bake in preheated oven until a skewer inserted into centre of the loaf comes out clean, about 50 to 60 minutes. Cool in tins on a wire rack. Serve at room temperature.