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Barm Brack Cake

Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Servings: 2 loaves

Ingredients

  • 4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp mixed (apple) spice
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 packs easy blend (rapid-rise) dried yeast
  • 6 tbsp soft brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 1 1/4 cup tepid milk
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 cup dried currants
  • 1 tbsp castor (superfine) sugar

Instructions

  • Butter two loaf pans (I used one square one - I didn't want to make the loaf in two pieces)
  • Mix flour, spice, salt, yeast and sugar in a large bowl then make a well in the center.
  • Mix the butter, milk and egg in a separate bowl and then add to large bowl.
  • Add the currants and mix well. Turn the mixture to the loaf pan(s).
  • Leave in a warm place for about 30 minutes to rise. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400º.
  • If adding fortune-telling charms: Clean and dry charms thoroughly then wrap tightly in parchment paper. Place wrapped charms evenly throughout loaf so that each person being served a slice will be guaranteed a fortune.
  • When the dough has doubled in size (it took about an hour for me), bake in oven for about 45 minutes or until the loaf begins to shrink from the sides of pan.
  • Make a glaze by mixing the castor sugar with 2 tbsp boiling water.
  • Remove loaf (or loaves) from oven and brush with glaze. Return to the oven for 3 minutes or until the tops become a shiny brown.
  • Remove from pans and place on wire rack to cool.
  • Serve with Irish butter while warm.

Notes

Original Recipe
The original recipe called for two cups of dried fruit and a half cup of candied peel. Based off other recipes I had researched, I opted to use currants in place of the mixed fruit and peel (I could not find candied peel for the life of me). As you see in the ingredients, I also only used 1 cup of currants. My family are not big fans of raisins and one cup really looked like enough when I was mixing it all together.