Barmbrack - Halloween Bread
A traditional Irish sweet bread, often enjoyed during Halloween
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.