Search This Blog

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Barmbrack (Irish)


A traditional Irish sweet yeasted bread made with black tea and raisins which has gained much popularity as a Halloween treat, becoming the center of this holiday's culinary custom in Ireland. :) 
Its name, Barmbrack, is a short Westernized version of its Irish name, Bairin Breac (which means speckled bread, the speckles coming from the raisins in it).
It is also served often with butter and tea in the afternoon during other times of the year. Not overly sweet, it can be eaten guilt-free or paired with other sweet spreads (jams) beside the butter.
More on this bread's history here

Last year: Zucchini cream soup (vegan).
Two years ago: Chocolate banana bread with white chocolate chips.







Ingredients (for one small loaf):
  • 200 g brown sugar
  • 150 g sultanas (or golden raisins)
  • 50 g mixed candied citrus peels (we used orange and lemon)
  • 320 ml brewed black tea 
  • 250 g all-purpose flour
  • 7 g dry yeast (one satchel)
  • a pinch of salt
  • 1 egg
  • 50 g butter
Soak the sultanas and the candied peels in the black tea overnight. 
The next day, pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees C and paper-line a small loaf tin. Add the sugar to the tea fruit mix.

Stir well to combine. Mix the flour with the salt and the yeast and melt the butter. Add the egg and butter to the liquid mix and then gradually incorporate the flour.

Let it rise for one hour, then transfer / pour it (it will be slightly more runny then your average yeasted dough) to the prepared tin.

Put it in the oven and bake it for 1 hour or until a skewer inserted in it comes out clean. Take out and allow to cool.

Slice and dig in! :)

No comments:

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...