Where’s the fruit? Top 8 bracks TESTED

TRADITIONAL at Halloween, in a perfect world a barm brack would be a simple bread enriched with an egg and with nice pump fruit to sweeten it.

Where’s the fruit? Top 8 bracks TESTED

Homemade guarantees this. While many don’t have the patience to use yeast, a good brack can be made without it, but it will be heavier. If you are feeling adventurous  there are plenty of recipes online.

Many bakers today don’t use the traditional long process of making bread, instead using flour improvers and various additives to shorten the baking process.

They also use margarine which itself contains additives. This takes away from the flavour and texture and the health benefits of what should be a healthy, uncomplicated product.

The good news is that all bracks improve with toasting and a delicious  bread pudding can be made from them.

I have put an idea for its use with apples on my blog at rozcrowley.com.

O’Sullivan’s bakery Kerry brack, 650g €3.85 (59c/100g)  

With ring, this brack has a good bread-like texture and a medium amount of fruit, including a small number of cherries. Comfortingly short list of ingredients.  Margarine used.

Score 7.75

Ballymore Crust Barm Brack Aldi, 454g 99c (21c/100g) 

This brack has a good amount of fruit with a slightly dry, bread-like texture. Ring included. Good value.

Score: 7.5

West Cork Bakery Halloween brack, 800g €4.33 (54c/100g) 

Quite a firm texture which isn’t heavy, this has a nice balance of fruit and crumb, though it is quite dry. Complete with ring, pea and rag, a fairly short list of ingredients with no emulsifiers etc, but with margarine.

Score: 7.5

Rankin Irish barmbrack, 480g, €3.15 (65c/100g) 

A decent amount of fruit here in quite a moist brack which is sweeter than other samples, with a hint of ginger livening the flavour along with mixed peel.

Score: 7.5

Irish Pride Halloween brack, 500g €3.62(72c/100g) 

Light on fruit, this is quite dry with a slightly darker colour than other samples. Expensive. Ring included.

Score: 6

Stafford’s Halloween brack Tesco, 520g €2.99 (57c/100g) 

Good amount of fruit here, slightly dry texture but nicely bread-like with a chewy crust. Ring included.

Score: 7.25

Baker’s Basket Dunnes, 630g €2.99 (47c/100g) 

With ring and quite a few cherries, this one by far has the most spicy flavour. Texture is moist, but also a little heavy.

Score: 6.75

The Cakery Bakery (SuperValu), 350g €2.50 (71c/100g)  

This is light on fruit and quite dry. The mixed peel adds to the taste variety. Ring included.  Expensive.

Score: 6

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