Welsh Saffron Bread

Submitted by strawberrybird

"This wonderful creation comes from Heartland by Marcia Adams, but I found it on the Batter-Splattered blog."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 20mins
• Ingredients: 11
• Yields: 1 loaf

ingredients

• 3 cups boiling water
• 1 cup dried currants or 1 cup dried cranberries
• 1⁄2 cup raisins
• 1⁄8 teaspoon saffron thread
• 1⁄2 cup butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon nutmeg

directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Pour 2 cups boiling water on dried currants and soak for 15 minutes, then drain. Pour remaining water over saffron and steep until cool.
3. Cream butter and sugar until well blended, about 3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, blending after each. Add lemon zest and juice.
4. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl and add to the sugar-butter mixture, alternately with the saffron water, beating until just blended. Stir in raisins and drained currants. Pour into a greased and floured loaf pan. Bake 40 - 50 minutes until top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Tip out onto a rack to cool.