Barmbrack

Barmbrack, from the Irish 'bairin breac' meaning speckled bread, is a yeasted fruit bread that holds a cherished place in Irish Halloween traditions. The dried fruit is soaked overnight in strong tea, which plumps it up and gives the bread its characteristic moist, dark crumb. Traditionally, objects are baked inside: a ring foretelling marriage, a coin for wealth, a pea for poverty, and a stick for disputes. Even without the charms, barmbrack is a magnificent tea-time bread.