This delicious cake is made for a Halloween celebration. The ancient Celtic celebration of Samhain is the origin of Halloween and takes on importance in Irish traditions. The custom of hiding an object within the cake adds a fun dimension to this great tasting treat.
Traditional Irish Barm Brack
(Makes 20 servings)
Ingredients
1 lbs raisins
1 lb sultanas (or golden raisins)
1 cup brown sugar
Zest of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 cup of hot strong Irish tea (Irish breakfast tea is best)
1 cup Irish whiskey (can substitute another cup of Irish tea instead)
4 eggs lightly beaten
3½ cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon ground allspice
Directions
Place fruit, sugar, lemon zest and juice, tea and whiskey into a large mixing bowl. Mix well, cover and allow to stand overnight at room temperature.
Preheat oven to 325°
Grease a 9 or 10 inch round springform pan with butter, or line the base and sides of a cake tin with parchment paper and grease the paper.
Pour beaten eggs and spices onto the marinated fruits and mix thoroughly.
Sift together flour and baking powder onto the fruit mixture and stir until dry ingredients are incorporated well.
Spoon into the prepared pan and smooth down the surface.
If you wish you may insert a ring wrapped in parchment paper into the batter at this point.
Bake at 325° for 1 hour or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool before removing the springform pan.
Serve with lots of good Irish butter and hot strong Irish tea. The barm brack is also great toasted. The tradition says, that the person who finds the ring will be married within a year.
Objects that can be placed in the Barm Brack and their meaning:
Ring: Good News! You will be married within the year.
Coin: Congratulations! You will have good fortune in the coming year
Pea: You will not marry for a year
Piece of cloth: You will have bad luck this year
Matchstick: For the next 12 months your love life will be filled with strife
Irish recipe, Halloween, fruit cake, fortune telling