Recipe: Halloween Kaki Fruit Cake

Bringing Halloween to the table in its sweetest taste.

I’m really excited to share one of my favorite original recipes, my Japan-inspired Barmbrack! Barmbrack is a traditional Irish fruit cake that is the center of Halloween here in Ireland. The name comes from the Irish words “báirín breac” which translated as “speckled bread.” The recipe is full of flavor with mixed spices and dried fruit, and with my original Japan twist, the kaki (persimmon) fruit adds a lovely moisture to the cake.

Traditionally, the dried fruit is soaked in tea overnight, but in busy households like mine and yours, we need to be able to make the cake at the last minute, so we can skip that step.  

Traditionally, a ring is placed inside the cake which signifies a wedding in the near future. As a child, I remember the excitement around the table to see who would find the ring in their slice of cake! This Halloween, you can try it at your home!

Ingredients:

• 225g self-raising flour
• 125g raisins
• 150g brown sugar
• 150g kaki (peeled and grated)
• 3 eggs
• Pinch of cinnamon
• Pinch of nutmeg
• Pinch of bread soda
• Kaki (peeled and sliced), to decorate top

You’ll need:

• Loaf tin
• Large bowl
• Ring, optional if you want to add a little Irish mystic!

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 170˚C/327°/Gas Mark 3
2. Place all ingredients (apart from the kaki slices for decorating) in a large bowl and mix well together.
3. Grease a loaf tin and pour the mixture into it.
4. Optional, if you want to add a little Irish mystic wrap a ring in greaseproof paper and add to the middle of the batter.  
5. Place the kaki slices on top to decorate.
6. Put in the oven for up to 1 hour or until it’s baked through. To check if it’s baked through insert a skewer or knife in the middle and if it comes out clean it’s ready.
7. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before placing on a wire rack to cool. Once cooled, wrap in greaseproof paper and tinfoil to keep fresh.
8. Add Halloween-inspired decorations of your choice.
9. Serve in slices with a fresh cup of tea or coffee.

Using this recipe? Share your photos with us via Facebook or Instagram with a hashtag #savvytokyorecipe . Enjoy! Xx