Irish Barmbrack

A traditional Irish fruit loaf eaten around Halloween. Easy to make, everything is mixed in one bowl and delicious spread with a thick layer of butter

Barmbrack is a traditional Irish recipe, made by families at home or sold in shops around Halloween. The name translates as “speckled loaf” in reference to the dried fruit speckled throughout it.

It is similar in texture and taste to a christmas cake, although not as heavy and dense and is best enjoyed with lashings of salted butter on top.

There are many variations to this recipe but the majority start by soaking dried fruit in a cup of tea. I used a bag of mixed dried fruit but you can easily swap it for just sultanas or currants instead.

How To Make Irish Barmbrack

The recipe takes a little time as you need to soak the fruit in the tea. But otherwise it is so simple to make, with everything being mixed in one bowl.

1. Step 1: Make a cup of tea and allow the tea bag to brew in the cup for 5 minutes.

2. Step 2: Add the tea to a bowl along with the dried fruit and leave to soak for at least an hour or overnight if you have time.

3. Step 3: Mix in an egg, along with flour, brown sugar, baking powder and mixed spice.

4. Step 4: Transfer to a lined loaf tin and bake for 1 hour.

Once cooked, remove the loaf from the tin and leave it to cool. Traditionally it was left for up to 2 days before cutting but I don’t know anyone with that kind of willpower!

I left it for 2 hours before cutting. If you cut it any sooner the loaf will crumble when you slice it.

How To Serve Barmbrack

Serve it with lashings of salted butter spread on top. This is so delicious for a comforting afternoon snack or I love to have it for breakfast too.

Storage

This Barmbrack will keep in an airtight tin for up to 4 days.

You can also freeze it in slices. Leave at room temperature for a couple of hours to defrost or alternatively pop it in the toaster on a low setting to defrost quickly.

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Irish Barmbrack

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★★★★★ 5 from 3 reviews

• Author: Ciara Attwell
• Prep Time: 1 hour 15 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hour
• Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x
• Category: Halloween
• Cuisine: Irish

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Description

A traditional Irish fruit loaf eaten around Halloween. Easy to make, everything is mixed in one bowl and delicious spread with a thick layer of butter

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Ingredients

• 1 tea bag
• 250ml boiling water
• 250g dried fruit mix
• 1 large egg
• 225g plain flour
• 100g light brown sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp mixed spice

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Instructions

1. Add the tea bag to a cup with the boiling water and leave the tea bag to brew in the cup for 5 minutes.
2. Remove the tea bag and add the cup of tea to a large bowl along with the dried mixed fruit.
3. Leave overnight to soak if you have the time or for at least an hour.
4. Add the egg to the bowl and mix well.
5. Add the flour, brown sugar, baking powder and mixed spice and mix again, just enough so that the ingredients are all well combined.
6. Line a loaf tin with parchment paper and pour the mixture in.
7. Bake in a preheated oven at 170c for 1 hour.
8. Remove the loaf from the tin and leave to cool. Traditionally this Barmbrack was left for up to 2 days before slicing but I left it for 2 hours. Allowing it to cool means that it less likely to crumble when you cut it.
9. Cut into slices, you should be able to get 12-14 slices depending on how thick you cut them.

Notes

This Barmbrack will keep in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

You can also freeze it in slices for up to 2 months. Defrost at room temperature in a couple of hours or pop in the toaster to defrost quickly.