Irish Barmbrack with Tea-Soaked Fruit

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Quick breads Medium

A soft, lightly spiced yeast loaf studded with dried fruit that has soaked in strong tea overnight. This is the classic yeast version, sliced and buttered. Makes 12 slices in about 14 hr 15 min.

Prep 30 min

Cook 45 min

Cooling 13 hr

Total 14 hr 15 min

Yield 12 slices

Ingredients

Adjust yield

slices

5 ½ oz (150 g)sultanas
¾ cup (100 g)raisins
2 ½ oz (75 g)currants
1 cup (250 ml)strong hot black tea
3 ½ cups (450 g)bread flour
¼ oz (7 g)instant yeast
¼ cup (60 g)light brown sugar
¾ tsp (5 g)salt
1 ½ tsp (4 g)mixed spice (or cinnamon with a little nutmeg)
¼ cup (60 g)unsalted butter, softened
⅔ cup (150 ml)whole milk, lukewarm
1 (50 g)egg, beaten
2 ½ tbsp (30 g)granulated sugar
2 tbsp (30 ml)water

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Instructions

The night before, pour the hot tea over the sultanas, raisins and currants and leave covered overnight.
Drain the fruit well, saving 2 tablespoons of the tea. Pat the fruit dry.
Mix the flour, yeast, sugar, salt and spice. Add the butter, milk, egg and the saved tea and knead 8 to 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
Knead in the drained fruit until evenly spread. Cover and let rise 1 to 1 1/2 hours at room temperature until doubled.
Shape into a loaf and place in a greased 2 lb (900 g) loaf pan, or shape a round and place in a 8-inch (20 cm) cake pan. Cover and rise 45 minutes until puffy.
Heat the oven to 375 F (190 C). Bake 40 to 45 minutes, until deep golden and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped; cover with foil if the top darkens too fast.
Simmer the sugar and water 1 minute for the glaze. Brush over the hot loaf and cool completely before slicing.

Tips

Drain the fruit well; extra tea makes a gummy crumb.
Do not bake a ring or coin into the loaf; it is a choking hazard.
Toast slices and spread with butter the next day.
Good with butter and a pot of tea.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make irish barmbrack with tea-soaked fruit?

Plan on 30 minutes of prep and 45 minutes of cooking, plus 13 hours to chill. The recipe makes 12 slices.

How should I store irish barmbrack with tea-soaked fruit?

Wrap well and keep at room temperature 3 days, or freeze up to 2 months.

Can I make irish barmbrack with tea-soaked fruit ahead?

Yes. It needs time to chill and set, so it is a good one to make the day before you serve it.

Barmbrack is an Irish fruit bread traditionally baked for Halloween, with dried fruit plumped in tea. Serve it with butter and a pot of tea.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 12 servings this recipe makes.

263 Calories / serving

6.4g Fat

48.3g Carbs

5.4g Protein

25.9g Sugar

Whole recipe (12 servings): ~3156 cal · 77g fat · 580g carbs · 65g protein · 311g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.