Traditional Scottish Black Bun
Black Bun is a traditional Scottish fruit cake baked inside a thin pastry shell, typically made for Hogmanay, the Scottish New Year celebration. The filling is packed with dried fruit, warming spices, and a splash of whisky, giving it a dense, richly flavored interior that contrasts with the crisp outer crust. Plan for around 3 hours from start to finish.
Equipment
- Mixing Bowls
- Whisk
- Rolling pin
- 9-inch loaf pan
- Oven
Ingredients
For the Pastry:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour plus extra for dusting
- 0.5 cup cold unsalted butter cubed
- 3 tablespoons ice water as needed
For the Filling:
- 1.5 cups dried currants
- 1 cup raisins
- 0.5 cup sugar brown sugar preferred
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 tablespoons whiskey optional but recommended
Instructions
- Pastry Preparation: In a mixing bowl, combine flour and cold butter cubes. Using a whisk or pastry cutter, blend until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually add ice water, one tablespoon at a time, integrating until a firm dough forms. Wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Filling Preparation: In a separate bowl, mix currants, raisins, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, and whiskey until the fruits are well-coated and aromatic.
- Assembly: Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C). Roll out the pastry on a floured surface to fit a 9-inch loaf pan. Press the pastry into the pan, leaving enough overhang to cover the top. Pack the fruit mixture into the pastry-lined pan. Fold the excess pastry over the filling, sealing well.
- Baking: Bake in the preheated oven for 3 hours until the pastry is golden and the filling is set. Allow cooling before slicing.
Notes
Lori’s Tips:
- To enhance the whiskey flavor, consider soaking the currants and raisins overnight.
- For a glossy finish, brush the top of the pastry with a beaten egg before baking.
- If preferred, substitute the whiskey with apple juice for a non-alcoholic version.
Nutrition
Calories: 411kcalCarbohydrates: 73gProtein: 5gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 23mgPotassium: 419mgFiber: 3gSugar: 30gVitamin A: 375IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 51mgIron: 3mg
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