Barm Brack - Irish Halloween Tradition

I took the Irish tradition of Barm Brack for granted right into my adult years. It wasn't until I left for University in the UK at the age of 19 that I discovered nobody there knew what on earth I was referring to when I verbally craved a slice nearing Halloween!

So here I share with you a recipe and a little about the tradition. The main thing is that this cake is great fun! How so? Well hidden inside, baked into the cake, are a number of trinkets. Each represents something different, the cake is a bit like a giant fortune cookie. The baker wraps each item in greaseproof paper and adds them to the dough before cooking. Children watch intently as the slices are cut and listen for any telltale metallic clinks made by the knife! Mothers usher the children out of the kitchen and then disguise any protruding objects with extra thick layers of butter and jam! Slices are handed out, no close up examinations are allowed before choosing and the host must have a poker face not to give away any inside information!!!

The trinkets include ;
a ring - predicting marriage within the year
a coin - wealth
piece of rag - poverty
thimble - batchelorette
button - batchelor
In our house I just put in a Euro coin for each child, and perhaps a cheap (non toxic!) ring if I can get my hands on one, and the rag.

And now for the recipe, which to be honest, is of little importance in comparison to the excitement of getting 'the ring' and the money, the rag is the boobie prize!

1 lb (454g) flour
6 oz (170g) sugar
1 lb (454g) raisins
1 tsp baking powder
1 egg
200ml milk
1 tsp all spice/mixed spice
A pinch of salt
A mug of cooled black tea



Method:
Soaking the raisins overnight in the tea.
Wrap each trinket in greaseproof paper.
The following day, add the sugar, milk and egg to the raisins (the tea will have mostly soaked into the fruit). Sift in the remaining dry ingredients. Mix gently. Stir in the wrapped trinkets and try to hide them evenly throughout the mix. Use a 7" round baking tin at 180C (350°F) for 80 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Once cooled, cut and spread with butter and jam amid great excitement! You just have time to get baking your Barm Brack in time for Wednesday.

Comments

[French Knots]

Sounds tasty, no doubt I would have the rag in my bit and not the money!

[Katrien]

Yum.
We're beginning to try different specialties from different cultures, because Amie is beginning to soak it all up, and she is good at pronouncing the strange names (even in Japanese!) and her mama and baba have discovered how much fun it is to explore cultures and history with food and little things...
But I guess the cake has to be eaten cautiously, no? So as to avoid dentist visits (and bills)?

[hedgewizard]

My god, but that takes me back to when my gran was around. Ahhh. Must make one.

Did you grow any brassicas in the tunnel this year, and how did you fare against caterpillars if so? Any comments on your insect-repellant plants?

[melanie]

I made this recipe for Halloween yesterday! I didn't add any trinkets though since it was my first time making it and I knew I would have to adjust some of the ingredients b/c I'm in Canada (elevation, dryness ect.). It turned out really well - I can't wait to make it again for something and throw some money in. :)

[Vallen Queen]

Oh, thanks. I have a housewarming to attend on Saturday. ANother Irish tradition, I've heard, is to take a loaf, of bread, a jug of wine and some salt to a new house. I'll make this bread and put in charms to bring good luck. Thank you.

[Henriette]

It is one of the things I have brought back from my stay in Ireland
(my daughter has irish roots- so I thought is was nice with a little bit of irish traditions as well)- so every halloween we bake barmbrack and eat colcannon for dinner- it is nice on a cold autumn day- but our fellow danes think we are crazy :-) but I like it far more than the american halloween with its candy in weird colours...

[Rebecca (author of Sallygardens)]

I will definitely be making another barm brack next year instead of buying. It lasts much longer and because there are a few trinkets in it, not just one ring, the children don't lose interest as soon as the ring is found because theres more bounty in there!

[Kathy]

Today I made this bread for the first time, we have not tried it yet, and Drat, I forgot to put the treat inside. The recipe was slightly different from yours, but I like the idea of soaking the raisins in the tea. I am glad I foung this website.