irish barmbrack cakes for halloween
Barmbrack is one of those traditional Halloween recipes that's both a dessert and a Halloween game. Traditionally, a ring is baked into the cake, and the person who finds the ring in their slice of barmbrack is guaranteed to be married before the year is out. To make a more modern, kid-friendly version of the barmbrack Halloween game, bake several food friendly (and difficult-to-choke-on) items into your barmbrack. Those who find the items in the barmbrack get a prize. Be sure to warn your guest to eat with care to avoid a Halloween trip to the hospital! This fluffy fruit bread is generally baked in a round cake pan. An 8 or 9 inch pan works well, but you can also use a loaf pan for a bread-shaped barmbrack. This turns out best if you leave time to soak the fruit overnight, but don't worry if you can't-- a few hours is fine.
Blue Ribbon Recipe
We love to try recipes from other cultures and this Irish Barmbrack Cake smelled amazing while in the oven. After a little research, we learned that some versions of this are cake-like while others are more like bread. But both are filled with tons of dried fruit and spices. The texture of this recipe is tender, soft, and similar to bread. It's jam-packed with raisins that have been soaked in black tea. A traditional Irish bread that would be fun to make for Halloween with kids. We love it dusted with powdered sugar and spread with jam.
Ingredients
- 2 cups strong, hot black tea
- 3 1/2 cups mixed dried fruits (raisins, cranberries, dry dates, candied orange peel, etc)
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 3 cups bread flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/3 cup butter
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon allspice, ground
How To Make irish barmbrack cakes for halloween
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Step 1Soak dried fruits in tea overnight (or a few hours if not enough time). -
Step 2Heat milk until warm. Sprinkle yeast and teaspoon granulated sugar over top and stir. Let sit in a warm place for about 15 minutes, until foamy.
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Step 3Stir together the flour, salt, spices, and brown sugar in a large bowl.
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Step 4Make a well in the center of the flour mixture, and add egg, yeast mixture, and butter. Mix well with a wooden spoon.
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Step 5Drain fruit well, then add to the dough. This should produce a smooth dough. If it's too gooey, add more flour.
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Step 6Knead dough on a floured board for about 5-10 minutes. The dough should be smooth, but just a little sticky.
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Step 7Place dough in your greased cake or loaf pan, cover with a cloth, and let rise in a warm place for 45-60 minutes, until doubled.
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Step 8Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake barmbrack 30 minutes.
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Step 9Remove bread from the pan, flip it upside down, return it to the pan, and bake 20 minutes more.
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Step 10Bread is done cooking it sounds hollow when tapped on the sides. Cool on a rack before serving.
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Step 11Sprinkle with powdered sugar or serve with butter and jam.
- Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!
