Barm Brack

Name: Barm Brack
Cuisine: United Kingdom
Ingredients: 115-140 g/4-5 oz sultanas; 300 ml/½ pint tepid milk; milk and sugar to glaze; 55 g/2 oz finely chopped mixed candied peel; 55 g/2 oz butter; ½ tsp each ground cinnamon and nutmeg; 1 egg, beaten; 85 g/3 oz soft brown sugar; 450 g/1 lb strong white bread flour; 1 tbsp tepid water; 1 tsp salt; ½ tsp white sugar; 20 g/¾ oz fresh yeast

Preparation info

Difficulty
Easy

Appears in

Two Fat Ladies

By Jennifer Paterson and Clarissa Dickson Wright

Published 1996

About

This excellent fruit bread is associated with St Brigid in Ireland and is eaten there on her feast day, the 1st February. In other places it was eaten at Hallowe’en when there was a thimble, button or silver coin lurking inside, or even a gold ring.

Ingredients

20 g/¾ oz fresh yeast
½ tsp white sugar

Europe
United Kingdom
Dessert
England
Vegetarian
February

Method

Blend the yeast with the white sugar, water and ½ tsp of the flour. It is ready when it becomes frothy.

Sift the remaining flour into a bowl with the salt and spice. Rub in the butter, then add the brown sugar and make a well in the centre. Pour in the creamed yeast, the beaten egg and most o