Barm Brack

• Two 1/4-oz/7-g packets active dry yeast
• 6 tbsp sugar
• 2 tbsp cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
• 4 1/2 cups/450 g flour, plus more for dusting
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup/150 g sultanas (golden raisins)
• 1 cup/150 g dried currants
• 1/2 cup/40 g candied orange peel or lemon peel (or a combination), finely chopped

1. Put the yeast and 1 Tbsp of the sugar into a medium bowl and gradually stir in 2 cups of warm water (about 100F/40C).
2. Set aside for about 10 minutes, or until the mixture becomes frothy.
3. Meanwhile, rub the butter into the flour in a large bowl until the mixture resembles coarse bread crumbs.
4. Stir in 4 Tbsp of the sugar, the ginger, nutmeg, salt, sultanas, currants, and candied peel.
5. Make a well in the center, pour in the yeast mixture, and stir the liquid into the flour in a spiral motion, from the middle outward, until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
6. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead, dusting with more flour as needed, until elastic and just slightly sticky, about 5 minutes.
7. Put the dough into a large greased bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and set aside in a warm place for about 1 hour, until dough has doubled in size.
8. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface again and knead lightly for a minute or two, then shape it into a large round or oval and put it on a lightly greased baking sheet.
9. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and set aside in a warm place for 30 minutes.
10. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 450F/230C (Gas Mark 8).
11. Bake the bread for 15 minutes.
12. Tent with foil, then reduce the oven temperature to 350F/175C (Gas Mark 4) and bake about 40 minutes more, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
13. Dissolve the remaining 1 Tbsp of sugar in 1 Tbsp of hot water and brush over the loaf.
14. Return the loaf to oven for 5 to 7 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool.

yeast, sugar, butter, flour, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, salt, sultanas, currants, candied orange

Taken from www.cookstr.com/recipes/barm-brack-2 (may not work)