REC: Barmbrack (Irish Halloween cake)

[Piccolina]

This is a traditional Irish cake that often makes an apperance at Halloween! (There are many versions and spellings of its name.) It is simple and relatively fast to whip-up, if you exclude the time needed to soak the first few ingredients. I find as with most loaf cakes it gets better after a day or two.

(In days gone by a gold ring would sometimes be baked into the cake and the lucky finder was said to then become married within the year!)

Barmbrack
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First stage

Mix together:
1 cup of sultanas
1 cup of raisins
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup cold tea

Cover these ingredients and leave to soak overnight.

Stage Two

Prepare these ingredients:
1 1/2 cups of flour
1 level teaspoon of baking powder
1 egg beaten
1 teaspoon mixed spice

1. Add the four, baking powder and spice to soaked fruit mixture.

2. Mix in the beaten egg.

3. Spoon into a well greased loaf tin and bake for 1 1/2 hours at 150 degrees Celsius (300 degrees Fahrenheit).

4. When cool brush the top with warmed honey for a glazed surface.

 

[PA Baker]

This sounds great, IC!

 

[AllenOK]

Thanks ICadvisor! That's a cut/paste into my files!

 

[Piccolina]

Hi guys,

I am very glad that you like this recipe! On a neat note I noticed that our local super market has a Halloween promotion right now where they are putting a real gold ring valued at €1,000 (Euro) into one of their brambrack loaves for one lucky winner to find! So evidently the Halloween tradition continues. I'd love to find the ring but I don't need any help in the marriage department