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What are Barm Cakes?

Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis

Barm cake is an unusual term with a surprising amount of meanings. In England, it is a term for a bread roll similar to a hamburger bun, often filled with French fries and sausage. In Ireland, barm cakes are an alternate term for barm brack, a traditional Halloween dessert. Barm cake has also come to use in slang, to refer to a stupid or idiotic person, as in “I’m such a barm cake when it comes to math.”

The slang use of barm cake is of uncertain origin, but likely is a reference to the blandness of the British roll. The simple plainness of barm cakes may relate to other British slang terms for stupidity, such as simpleton. In any case, this term is an excellent piece of obscure slang for those who enjoy insulting others in a way they likely will not understand.

Barm cakes are traditionally seasoned with nutmeg.
Barm cakes are traditionally seasoned with nutmeg.

The British use of the term refers to a plain, soft roll, usually topped with flour before baking. Originally, its name came from the heavily-flavored barm leaven. Barm is created during fermentation of yeast, often during the process of making ale or lager. When scraped from the top of the liquid, barm was often combined with hops and was originally used as the yeast agent in barm bread. Today, most barm cakes are made with regular yeast, and is often found in fish and chip shops as chip barms.

Barm cakes usually contain raisins.
Barm cakes usually contain raisins.

The Irish version of barm cakes are considerably more fun, and attached to an ancient superstition. Barm brack, as it is commonly known, is a fruit and spice cake traditionally served on Halloween. Typically, a wedding ring is baked randomly into the cake. Whoever gets the slice of barm brack with the ring in it is said to be the next person to marry, or to at least be married by the next Halloween.

French fries fill barm cakes in England.
French fries fill barm cakes in England.

To make Irish barm cakes for your next spooky celebration, the typical recipe calls for sultanas, raisins, candied citrus peel and nutmeg mixed into a simple egg and yeast dough. Bake on a high heat for approximately an hour. If you are going to include the traditional ring, warn your guests to check their slices before eating! It is easy to break a tooth or swallow a small ring, which will unpleasantly ruin the thought of getting married within the year.

Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis

With a B.A. in theater from UCLA and a graduate degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute, Jessica is passionate about drama and film. She has many other interests, and enjoys learning and writing about a wide range of topics in her role as a DelightedCooking writer.

Learn more...
Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis

With a B.A. in theater from UCLA and a graduate degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute, Jessica is passionate about drama and film. She has many other interests, and enjoys learning and writing about a wide range of topics in her role as a DelightedCooking writer.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon971410

Actually here in Manchester I've frequently heard the term "barm cake" used to describe someone who is daft or crazy (not stupid), but really it's just an alternative to saying "barmy".

anon91148

2Quote - "The slang use of barm cake is of uncertain origin, but likely is a reference to the blandness of the British roll."

The term used is not "Barm Cake" but 'BalmPot' which was derived from the pre and Victorian self medicating salve of goose grease saved in a pot. This had many applications, added wintergreen for bronchitis, applied for burns, menthol added for inhalation, etc.

anon74828

Quote - "The slang use of barm cake is of uncertain origin, but likely is a reference to the blandness of the British roll."

Don't guess when you don't know. It's more properly "barmpot", and is the same origin as "barmy", and means "frothy, empty headed", from the frothy nature of barm (= yeast)

anon61252

My mother used to make barm cake. Has anyone the recipe? It was 1 1/2lbs of plain flour but only 3oz of mixed fruit and very little margarine, sugar but I don't have the exact weights for all ingredients.

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    • Barm cakes are traditionally seasoned with nutmeg.
      By: Thomas Francois
      Barm cakes are traditionally seasoned with nutmeg.
    • Barm cakes usually contain raisins.
      By: Dionisvera
      Barm cakes usually contain raisins.
    • French fries fill barm cakes in England.
      By: Africa Studio
      French fries fill barm cakes in England.
    • Barm is generated during the fermentation of yeast, such as that produced during the process of making ale or lager.
      By: Brent Hofacker
      Barm is generated during the fermentation of yeast, such as that produced during the process of making ale or lager.
    • The British use of the term refers to a plain, soft roll, usually topped with flour before baking.
      By: jolantia
      The British use of the term refers to a plain, soft roll, usually topped with flour before baking.