The Perfect Barmbrack Recipe

Barmbrack Recipe

Celebrate the ancient Irish festival of Samhain (Sow-win) with an Irish Halloween treat.

Serves: 8          Cooking Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

Makes one 900g loaf
225g plain flour
2 tsps of baking powder
375g packet of fruit mix
250ml cold tea
50ml of whiskey
125g light brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 tsp of mixed spice
A ring, stick, thimble, button, coin and a piece of cloth to place inside. (All wrapped in parchment paper).

1. Place the fruit mix in a bowl and pour over the whiskey and cold tea. Allow to soak up the liquid overnight.

2. Preheat the oven to 170C/340°F and grease and line a 900g loaf tin. Combine the flour, baking powder, sugar and mixed spice in a mixing bowl. Make a well and break in the egg, and using a wooden spoon mix the egg with the dry ingredients. Add a little it of the liquid the fruit mix is sitting in and mix it through. You may not need all the liquid – you are looking for a wet dough. Then stir through the fruit mix until everything is thoroughly combined.

3. Add in the traditional symbols and stir through. Spoon the wet dough into the lined loaf tin and place in the oven on the middle shelf and bake for one hour. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before removing from the loaf tin and place on a wire rack.

4. Cover in cling wrap and tin foil and allow to sit for one to two days before cutting into it. Serve in slices spread with a little butter.