Irish Barmbrack

Barmbrack is a traditional Irish cake eaten on holidays. After pouring into the prepared pan, it is tradition to add objects to the barmbrack which symbolize certain things for the person who receives each in their slice. Thoroughly clean objects before adding them to the barmbrack. These objects can be pressed into the bottom of the loaf after baking instead: coin-wealth or good fortune; ring-will marry within the year; bean-poverty; pea-will not marry within the year; matchstick-unhappy marriage; thimble-single for life.

Unbalanced

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Step 1

Soak the dried fruit in the hot tea for at least 2 hours, but best overnight.

Step 2

Preheat oven to 180 C.

Step 3

Grease and Line a 2lb loaf tin.

Step 4

Stir together the flour cinnamon, nutmeg, and baking powder and set aside.

Step 5

Beat the egg, sugar, marmalade and orange zest together. Add to the tea-soaked fruit and stir until well combined. Gently fold in the flour until just combined, then pour into the prepared loaf tin.

Step 6

Bake in preheated oven for 90 minutes , until a skewer comes out clean.

Step 7

Remove from the oven and leave it in the tin to cool for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes remove from the tin and transfer to a wire rack and allow to cool completely.

Step 8

Press the objects of choice into the cake through the bottom before serving.