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Up until 2 weeks ago, I had never heard of Traditional Irish Barmbrack Bread or any other kind of Barmbrack! There, I said it out loud. I initially felt like an Irish American failure …how did I miss this all these years? But I started to feel better as I checked around. No one I knew had heard of it either. But upon researching it, I’ve come to learn that this fruited bread is actually quite common in Ireland and is served traditionally at Halloween. While it is typically made at home, it is made commercially around that holiday and can be bought at grocery stores.

It is packed with a little Irish Folklore and superstition too. (Don’t you just love bread with a story?) This bread (which reminds me of a fruit cake only soooooo much better) is made around Halloween and is filled with trinkets that predict your future…or at least the coming year when found in your piece of the bread. The trinkets range from a coin (you’ll have a good financial year) to a ring (you’ll be married within the year) to a piece of cloth (you’ll be broke). In recent years, the commercially sold “bracks” usually just come with a plastic ring. (Some fear about people swallowing a bunch of trinkets kept production to one, single item.)

The whole tradition reminded me of the King Cakes found at Mardi Gras in New Orleans. There, they hide a plastic baby Jesus in the cake and the person that finds it in their cake slice will have good luck that year.

The fact that I had never heard of this Irish bread or the folklore behind it, made this whole experiment so much more fun. Besides finding a new Irish treat, it came with a story and was fun to make.

You’ll start by sifting all the dry ingredients into a bowl. Then, using a fork, you smash the butter into the mix. You’ll then add sugar and make sure it is all incorporated.

Mix the yeast with a tablespoon of warm milk and a teaspoon of sugar and let it sit for about five minutes to get nice and frothy. That means the yeast is working.

You’ll add the yeast mixture, the rest of the milk and the beaten egg to the flour mixture and let the stand mixer do it’s job. Using the dough hook, you’ll mix and knead the bread for up to 8 minutes until smooth. Add the dried fruit and make sure it is all well incorporated. Cover the bowl with a towel and let the dough rest until doubled in size. About one hour.

Once the dough has risen, turn it out onto a floured board or kitchen counter top. Shape the dough into a 9-inch round. If you are hiding the trinkets like suggested by Irish folklore, now is the time to do it. I’ve heard some people wrap the trinkets in a piece of parchment paper so they are easier to find. I choose to warn everyone to be on the lookout OR leave them out completely and just share the story. You decide.

Place the loaf in a cheesecake pan with releasable sides, cover with a towel and let rise a second time for about 45 minutes. Remove towel and bake for one hour.

When the bread is done, you’ll brush the top with the egg wash and put back in the oven for a couple of minutes to get golden brown and shiny.

Let cool a few minutes, then run your knife around the rim of the bread and the pan and release the pan from the bread.

I made it as part of my St. Paddy’s Day menu this year and people went nuts for it. I was concerned at first that it would taste like the dreaded fruit cake we all get and give away at Christmas…lol. But I couldn’t have been more wrong. This is a tasty bread (not cake). I really like it sliced, toasted and slathered with Kerry Gold butter. Served with a cup of tea and you’ll feel like you are in Ireland in no time. Definitely worth making a loaf for this holiday.

If you are looking for traditional Irish soda bread recipes, I’ve got you covered. Try my family’s recipeor try the Lyons-Dooley version. Both recipes are delicious.

If you are looking for other St. Paddy’s Day menu ideas, check out mySt. Patrick’s Day Dinner menu here.

You’ll need some cocktails for the big day so try myBlack Velvet Cocktailand myIrish Coffeerecipe too. Have a good one!

Traditional ‌Irish Barmbrack ‌Bread ‌

Lyons-Dooley Irish Soda Bread

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