Sweet Scottish Black Bun with Spices and Dried Fruits

Name: Sweet Scottish Black Bun with Spices and Dried Fruits
Prep time: 3 h
Cook time: 3 h
Total time: 3 h
Yield: 8-10 slices
Cuisine: Dessert
Ingredients: All-purpose flour; Unsalted butter, chilled and cubed; Sugar; Salt; Cold water; Raisins; Currants; Almonds, chopped; Mixed peel; Brown sugar; Cinnamon; Ginger; Allspice; Ground cloves; Black treacle; Whisky or rum; Egg beaten with water

A Traditional Festive Cake from Scotland

Enjoy the rich, sweet, and spicy flavors of this traditional Scottish cake, packed with dried fruits and a blend of warming spices—a perfect treat for festive occasions.

3 h
8-10 slices
Intermediate

Ingredients

For the Dough

All-purpose flour

2 cups

Unsalted butter, chilled and cubed

½ cup

Sugar

1 tablespoon

Salt

½ teaspoon

Cold water

4 teaspoons

For the Filling

Raisins

1 cup

Currants

1 cup

Almonds, chopped

½ cup

Mixed peel

½ cup

Brown sugar

½ cup

Cinnamon

1 teaspoon

Ginger

½ teaspoon

Allspice

½ teaspoon

Ground cloves

¼ teaspoon

Black treacle

1 tablespoon

Whisky or rum

2 tablespoons

For the Egg Wash

Egg beaten with water

1 egg + 1 tbsp water

Preparation

Preparing the Dough

Mix dry ingredients

In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, and salt.

Incorporate butter

Rub in the chilled butter until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

Form the dough

Gradually add cold water, mixing until the dough forms. Wrap in cling film and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Preparing the Filling

Combine fruits and spices

Combine all dried fruits, nuts, and spices in a large bowl.

Add sweeteners

Stir in brown sugar, black treacle, and whisky. Mix thoroughly until well combined.

Rest the filling

Let the mixture stand for 30 minutes to meld flavors.

Ensure the filling is not too moist; excess liquid will affect baking. Pro Tip: Letting the filling rest overnight enhances the flavor profile.

Cooking Process

Rolling out the Dough

Roll out half of the dough to line the baking tin, leaving no gaps.

Assembling the Cake

Fill the lined tin with the fruit mixture, packing it tightly.

Topping the Cake

Roll out the remaining dough and place it on top, sealing edges well.

Plating & Serving