Barmbrack bread, also known as barm cake, is a traditional Irish bread that is commonly enjoyed during Halloween and other special occasions. It is a sweet, fruity bread that is perfect for afternoon tea or as a snack.
Why Is It Called Barmbrack?
The word “barm” comes from an old English word meaning yeast or froth, which is used to refer to the foam on top of fermenting beer.
Brack, on the other hand, is derived from the Irish word “breac,” which means speckled or spotted. Thus, barmbrack means “speckled bread.”
In the past, barmbrack was made using a mixture of beer barm, flour, sugar, and dried fruit.
However, beer barm is no longer used in modern barmbrack recipes. Instead, baker’s yeast is used to make the dough rise.
What Is Traditionally In Barmbrack?
Barmbrack is traditionally made with raisins, sultanas, currants, and candied citrus peel.
It is also spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and mixed spice. The bread is typically sweetened with brown sugar or honey, which gives it a rich flavor.
One of the most distinctive features of barmbrack is the inclusion of small objects in the dough.
These objects are usually wrapped in parchment paper or foil before being mixed into the dough.
The objects are said to have special meanings and are supposed to give a glimpse into the future of the person who finds them.
For example, a coin is said to represent wealth, a ring represents marriage, a thimble represents spinsterhood, and a button represents bachelorhood.
When sliced, it is customary to serve a piece to each person in the household, with the person who finds the object in their slice said to have good luck for the coming year.
Differences Between Tea Brack And Barmbrack
Barmbrack is often confused with tea brack, another traditional Irish bread.
While they share some similarities, there are some distinct differences between the two.
Tea brack is similar to barmbrack in that it is also a sweet, fruity bread. However, tea brack is made using tea instead of beer barm.
The tea adds a subtle flavor and aroma to the bread, which sets it apart from barmbrack.
Tea brack also typically includes additional ingredients like chopped nuts, mixed peel, and glacé cherries.
Barmbrack, on the other hand, is typically served sliced and spread with butter, while tea brack is often served as a whole cake.
How to Make Barmbrack Bread
Making barmbrack bread is easy, and it requires only a few simple ingredients. Here’s a recipe that you can follow:
Ingredients:
500g strong white flour
100g caster sugar
1 tsp mixed spice
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp salt
1 packet of active dried yeast (7g)
50g butter, softened
300ml warm milk
1 egg
150g raisins
150g sultanas
150g currants
50g mixed peel
Instructions:
- In a large mixing bowl, sift the flour and add the caster sugar, mixed spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and yeast. Mix well.
- Add the softened butter to the bowl and mix until it forms a crumbly texture.
- In a separate bowl, beat the egg and warm milk together, then gradually pour this mixture into the large mixing bowl. Stir until a dough forms.
- Add the raisins, sultanas, currants and mixed peel to the dough and mix well. The dough will be sticky.
- On a floured surface, knead the dough for 10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
- Grease a large bowl with butter, and place the dough inside. Cover with cling film and leave in a warm place to prove for 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.
- Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan) and grease a 23cm round cake tin.
- Once the dough has risen, knock it back by punching the air out of it. Knead it again for 2-3 minutes.
- Shape the dough into a round shape and place it into the greased cake tin. Cover with cling film and leave to prove again for 30 minutes.
- Remove the cling film and place the cake tin in the preheated oven. Bake for 50 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the bread comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin for 5-10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once cooled, slice and serve with a spread of butter and a cup of tea.
- Enjoy your freshly baked Barmbrack bread!
References and recommendations that you may find helpful: