This American Barm-Brack recipe is a delightful variation of the traditional Irish fruit bread. Made with a mix of dried fruits and spices, this moist and flavorful bread is perfect for breakfast or tea time. Serve warm with a spread of butter for a truly delightful treat.
Ingredients
- 2 cups mixed dried fruits (such as raisins, currants, and candied peel)
- 1 cup hot brewed black tea
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp mixed spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice)
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup milk
Directions
- In a bowl, soak the dried fruits in hot tea and brown sugar for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and grease a loaf pan.
- In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and mixed spice.
- Stir in the fruit mixture, melted butter, eggs, and milk until well combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for about 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the barm-brack cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Slice and serve with butter.
Interesting Facts
Barm-brack is also known as 'Bairín Breac' in Irish, which means 'speckled loaf' due to the dried fruits in the bread.
In Ireland, it is a tradition to bake a ring into the barm-brack, and whoever finds it in their slice is said to have good luck.