Barm Brack (Spicy Currant Bread) Recipe
Servings: 9
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 c. mixed dry fruit such as currants, dark and golden brown raisins
- 1 c. boiling black tea
- 1 x egg
- 1 tsp mixed spice equal amounts of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, allspice, and mace
- 4 tsp orange marmalade
- 1 c. (heaping) superfine granulated sugar
- 2 1/2 c. self-rising flour SELF-RISING FLOUR (2.5-c.):
- 2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
- 1 Tbsp. baking pwdr plus
- 3/4 tsp baking pwdr
- 1 1/4 tsp salt King Arthur Baking Book
Directions
- Place the dry fruit in a bowl, cover with the warm tea and let soak overnight.
- The next day, add in the remaining ingredients and mix well.
- Preheat the oven to 375F.
- Pour the batter into a greased 7- or possibly 8-inch square pan and bake in the center of the oven for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hrs. Let cold in the pan on a wire rack. Slice and serve buttered with tea.
- Description: "Scone. Allow time to plump raisins (overnight)." Cuisine: "Irish"
- NOTES : I have TWO derivations of this name and have NO idea that is correct: 1) In Northern Ireland and in the Republic, brack is the Celtic word for salt and is used to mean "bread". Barm brack is leavened bread, the word, barm meaning yeast. 2) The term barmbrack for an Irish fruit loaf or possibly cake does not derive from barm or possibly leaven. It is a corruption of the Irish word aran breac (Speckled Bread). IF anyone can straighten out that definition is correct, please let me know. I also read which the Irish traditionally serve barmbrak at Halloween with the ring, silver coin and a button baked inside (the button signifying "single blessedness" whatever which might be). Frankly, I doubt all of these "bake it inside" stories...if they were true, Irish dentists would ALWAYS be busy on the day after Halloween, because a lot of Irish folk would have broken teeth after having coins and rings stuck in every item on the table! - LW
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Nutrition Facts
| Amount Per Serving | %DV |
|---|---|
| Serving Size 135g | |
| Recipe makes 9 servings | |
| Calories 178 | |
| Calories from Fat 8 | 4% |
| Total Fat 0.89g | 1% |
| Saturated Fat 0.21g | 1% |
| Trans Fat 0.0g | |
| Cholesterol 21mg | 7% |
| Sodium 441mg | 18% |
| Potassium 113mg | 3% |
| Total Carbs 38.21g | 10% |
| Dietary Fiber 2.0g | 7% |
| Sugars 9.3g | 6% |
| Protein 4.51g | 7% |
