Let’s talk Halloween, Ireland and Barmbrack (pronounced /ˈbɑːrm.bræk/ bomb brahk)—a delicious Halloween bread from Ireland, the birthplace of Halloween.
A Celtic Halloween Tradition
On the Celtic calendar, November 1 marked the start of the New Year, making October 31 New Year’s Eve. In celebration, families would gather around the table and share a loaf of Barmbrack—a fruit-studded bread with hidden charms inside. Each slice revealed hints of what the coming year might hold, adding mystery and anticipation to the feast.
Little trinkets – a ring for romance, a coin for wealth, or even a rag for bad luck—were baked right into the bread. One never knew if the bread predicted a promising future or just a mouthful of raisins. These days, health and safety have taken the magic tokens out of the dough (no more surprises in your slice), but sharing a loaf in celebration of the New Year lives on.
Could celebrating the New Year twice be doubly lucky? Go ahead! Stack the odds with Barmbrack!
My recipe calls for raisins, golden raisins, maraschino cherries and walnuts in the dough (non-traditional, but… Yum!). You may want to experiment with your favorites!
I often serve chocolate coins alongside Barmbrack. It is a fun, modern twist on the coin-in-the-loaf tradition, and a nod to the fortune-telling spirit without risking any chipped teeth! Plus, it’s a little something extra to enjoy— and who can say no to chocolate?
Rediscovering this bread in Massachusetts brought back all the memories of our trip to Ireland. You can read all about that here:
For first time bread Bakers:
Search YouTube for: “How to knead bread dough”
Search YouTube for: “How to punch down bread dough”
Barmbrack - Halloween Bread
Equipment
- 1 10" Springform Pan
Ingredients
- Bread Ingredients:
- 3 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 tsp Pumpkin Pie spice
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- 1 pinch Salt
- 4 tbsp Butter
- 1/4 oz Fast Acting Yeast (1 pkg)
- 1/2 cup + 1 tsp Sugar
- 1 1/4 cup + 1 tbsp milk, tepid at 110°
- 1 large Egg, beaten
- 1/2 cup Raisins
- 1/2 cup Golden Raisins
- 1/2 cup Maraschino Cherries, halved
- 1/2 cup Walnuts, chopped
- Glaze Ingredients:
- 1 Egg Yolk
- 1 tbsp Milk
- 1 tsp Sugar
Instructions
- Sift the flour, spices and salt into a large bowl.
- Rub the butter into the flour mixture.
- Add the sugar and mix the dry ingredients together.
- Prepare the yeast in a separate bowl or pitcher. Mix the packet of yeast with 1 tablespoon of tepid milk and 1 teaspoon of sugar. Let it stand for about 5 minutes. The yeast will become creamy and frothy when it is ready.
- Add the yeast mixture, the additional tepid milk and the beaten egg to the flour mixture. Knead for about 1 minute by hand or use the dough hook of an electric mixer.
- Add the raisins, golden raisins, walnuts and cherries to the dough and knead for an additional 5 minutes. Cover the bowl of dough with a clean towel and leave it in a warm place for 1 hour. The dough should double in size.
- Pre-heat the oven to 350° Fahrenheit or 180° Celsius.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Make a fist and punch the dough down.
- Place the dough in a large 10-inch round springform pan. Cover the loaf in the pan and allow it to rise again for 45 minutes.
- Bake for 1 hour until the bread is done and the crust is golden brown.
- Remove the loaf from the oven and brush the top with the egg wash. Return the bread to the oven for 2 to 3 minutes to cook the glaze.
- Remove the loaf from the oven and cool in the pan for 5 minutes before turning it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Get ready for our upcoming post about our spooky adventures in Salem during the Halloween season! We’re excited to share our visit to this enchanting town, where history and Halloween intertwine. From sinister tales of the Salem Witch Trials to rowdy celebrations, we experienced all the magic and mystery. Keep an eye out for that post – coming soon.
