Traditional Irish Barmbrack Recipe

Each country in the british isles has its own fruitcake, whether for celebrations or for tea time. In ireland, the fruitcake of choice is called barmbrack (from its gaelic name birn breac, or speckled loaf, referring to the speckles of fruit in the cake). This lovely cake is traditionally eaten at halloween and as part of st patrick's day celebrations. At halloween, the custom is to bake a small object, like a ring, into the cake as a kind of fortune-teller. Finding the ring delights the unmarried as it portends they will be the next to walk down the aisle. Brack is also eaten year-round as part of tea time, when it is served with salty irish butter. Brew some tea and get ready for a real irish treat