Ingredients

• 225g plain flour
• 1 heaped teaspoon of baking powder
• 350g dried mixed fruit
• 300ml cold tea
• 125g caster sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• A pinch of mixed spice
• Honey (to glaze)

Method

1. Place fruit and tea in a bowl and leave to soak overnight.
2. Add sugar, egg, flour and mixed spice and mix well.
3. Wrap ring and any other surprises in greaseproof paper and stir into mixture.
4. Transfer to a greased and base lined 20cm/8" round cake tin or 900g/2lb loaf tin.
5. Bake in a preheated oven 170°C/325°F/Gas 3 for approx one hour or until risen and firm to the touch.
6. Cool on a wire tray. When cold, wrap in greaseproof paper and keep for two days before cutting.
7. Melted honey may be brushed over brack before cutting.

Traditional additions to the teabrack

• A pea - the person who received the pea wouldn't marry that year
• A matchstick - meant an unhappy marriage
• A piece of cloth - indicated poverty
• A coin - indicated they would enjoy good fortune or be rich
• A thimble - the person was said to be doomed to a life of spinsterhood
• A ring - the person would marry within the year.