Barmbrack

What it really is

Barmbrack, or bairín breac, is an Irish yeasted fruit bread made with dried fruit, often soaked in tea before it is mixed into the dough. It is especially associated with Halloween, when some versions contain small charms wrapped for safe baking.

The loaf is lightly sweet, with raisins or currants distributed through an enriched dough. Tea-soaked fruit is common, though recipes vary in the type of fruit, spice and enrichment used.

Barmbrack is a yeasted fruit loaf, usually sliced, with dried fruit distributed through a lightly enriched dough. Tea-soaked fruit is common in contemporary recipes, but this entry does not make tea a required ingredient because recipes vary. Barmbrack is associated with Halloween, and some household traditions baked small objects into the loaf; that practice should not be implied for every commercially sold brack. A common version uses wheat flour, yeast, raisins, sugar, egg and butter; dried fruit may contain sulphites. A bakery should check the actual fruit label and recipe. Barmbrack is not the same as soda bread or a dense fruitcake: fermentation and the bread-like crumb are important to the description. Name any tea, spice or inclusions actually used.

How it's served

• Slice and serve plain or with butter, often with tea.
• Halloween versions may include symbolic objects; these should be disclosed and handled safely.

How to write it on the menu

• Identify the dried fruit and whether it was soaked in tea.
• Flag wheat, egg and dairy where used, and check dried fruit for sulphites.
• Disclose any charm or other non-food item included in a traditional Halloween loaf.