Real balm cakes

Hi All,
Anyone got a proper recipe for those delicious balm cakes I used to buy from Pooles? Can't seem to find anything like them in New Zealand
regards
Peter

i think you mean barm cakes

Hello Peter, you can follow any ordinary white bread recipe, but the answer lies in the kneading, don't skimp on it. These days it's all about quickness, but good bread needs a a lot of time spent kneading the dough. Good luck - remember love your dough - caress it - spend time with it.

ME MUM STILL MAKES BARM CAKES ... MUSHY PEAS .. STEAK PUDDINGS ... JUST LIKE BEING HOME BUT ALOT WARMER ... LOL

also cool hands

Try as I might, I cannot produce good barm cakes (barm is another word for yeast). I can do really good Italian bread, French, good English loaves, but never, no matter how hard I try, can I make real barm cakes.

"Barmy" is also British slang for "crazy", comparing the foamy texture of barm to the perceived emptiness of such a person's head.

BARM CAKE recipe

1lb strong white flour. 1 teaspoon salt. 2oz lard
2 teaspoons granulated sugar. 1oz fresh yeast
10 fl oz warm milk and water, mixed.

Sift the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl and rub in the fat until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

Add half the sugar, Cream the yeast with the remaining sugar and add to the warm liquid. Leave until frothy; about 5 minutes. Pour the liquid into the flour and work to a soft dough. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic.

Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with clean tea towel and leave to rise in a warm place for 1 hour.

Knead the dough again and divide into 10 pieces. Shape into rounds and flatten them with rolling pin until about half an inch thick, make a dimple with finger in the center of each, and place on a greased baking tin.

Cover with a clean tea towel and leave in a warm place to prove for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, set your oven to 450F or Mark 8. Sprinkle each roll with a little flour and bake for 20 minutes, or until just nicely coloured. Wrap in a clean tea towel to keep them soft as they cool.

I have used this recipe for years, it was given to me by my Mother who made the best Balm Cakes going.. DO NOT RUSH MAKING THEM

The last time I was in England (10 years ago) I couldn't buy a barm cake like the ones I remember from 40 years ago !
I used to enjoy a barm cake with a good spread of 'best' butter and a thick slice of boiled ham - yum yum.

These days in England they sell Bapps ? Bopps ? they are not Barm Cakes like I remember.

By the way, in England they used to sell 'Best' Butter - what is 'Best Butter' ? is there a 'Worst' Butter ?

Fred I have just set my oven to 4500F and it melted ,Any ideas?

HAHAHA

barmy just barmy

nicko, sorry I made a typo error, 450 degrees
If you are in the Bellinham Hotel Wigan Lane 24th June 12 noon, I will buy you a drink.

Mate I was in there over Christmas,But Im back here in Queensland so if Your ever near the Brekfast Creek Hotel I will buy you one

Fred - sounds like I can take the easy way out and use a bread maker. Going to try it this weekend - will let you know how they turn out.

Cheers nicko,

Brenda, thats a good idea, don't forget to Shape into rounds and flatten them with rolling pin until about half an inch thick, make a dimple with finger in the center of each, and place on a greased baking tin.

Cover with a clean tea towel and leave in a warm place to prove for 20 minutes.
That make the difference between a Bap and a Barm cake.
Good baking Brenda.

If you are interested in cooking ect try, http://www.masterchef.com.au
Great show.

Haven't had a good barm cake in over ten years
they don't know what a barm cake is across the pond, used ta get a great bacon and egg barm just off Frog Lane.

Used to get a good barm cake on the corner of Atherton Road & Platt Lane in Hindley - with heart and stuffing - scrumptious!

You can get good currys and kebabs "just off king street" on a sunday morning

Many thanks Fred,
Just what I was looking for !
Can't wait until I'm making 'ham off the bone' barmies
again many thanks
Peter

You are welcome Peter.
I hope they are to your satisfaction. don't over bake them.
Fred.

dennisd,
when you are in the UK in July, where will you be?, if you are in the Wigan area maybe we could have a pint on one of the locals, maybe find one that still makes a good Ham Barm cake. I am there for 6 weeks from the 14th June
Cheers Fred.

Hi Fred - I made 'em on the weekend and they were yummy! The oven seemed a bit too hot, though, at 450F and they were done in only 10 mins and a bit too brown on top, but I'll definitely do them again only a bit cooler oven next time. We had tuna & lettuce on them - oh so good

Hi brenda, thanks for letting me know how you went with the Balm Cakes,and that you enjoyed them even though they were a bit over baked, try them at 400F/425F next time, using a bread maker, does away with all the work of kneading.
Cheers Fred

fred - I will be in the U.K. from the 2nd of July - 14th of July.
Will be in south Lancashire, Lake District & Yorkshire.
Where will you be ?

Fred - I will make them away - and the breadmaker's a godsend when you have a bit if arthur-itis in your hands!

Dennisd.
I will be based at Leyland/Preson with my Brother, he is a Wigan World member,so if you are in the area, will be available for a beer.I have a hire car lined up so will be mobile.
Cheers Fred

brenda m.
Try baking them on a lower shelf in the oven, somwhere in the back of my mind, I remember them being called "Oven Bottoms", as you could bake them while cooking something else on the higher shelves.
Cheers.

Thanks Fred i tried the recipe today (not in machine)
just my trusty Kenwood and my hands.
they are fantastic just like i used to make years ago before i lost the recipe,
lovely and soft.
I used a packet of allinsons dried yeast.no problems.

Hi Trixie.
Pleased to hear that your Balm Cakes turned out good, maybe we have started a Balm Cake revival.
Thanks for letting me know your results, one of the secrets, is covering them with a clean Tea Towel after baking them, keeps them soft, and the aroma of the balm in the cake.

fred rosbottom - I will try and get together with you for a beer - can you send me a contact telephone number for where you will be staying.
If you ask the webmaster to send me your e-mail with the number, i'm sure he will do it.

dennisd,
Watch this thread, I will give you a contact number when I arrive in Leyland.
Cheers Fred

Just wondering has anyone else tried making tone balm cakes, we don't want to lose the recipe again.
Fred

Has anyone had success with the recipe for Balm Cakes???

Maybe we need a "Lancashire recipe" section at WW. Then we don't lose all our traditional recipes. I'm going to make Fred's barmies again this weekend but at a cooler temp.

I'm all for that idea Brenda Next recipe I'd like is for a proper pork pie with jelly on top! Yummy

thanks Fred for the barm cakes recipe
use to love Barm Cakes from Dowds bakery in Spring View
They were the best

Peter a bit of a trip for you but you can get these in Queensland Pork Pies tried them nice. not as good as the ones you get in Wigan

peterfoster there,s loads o barm cakes on here,join the party!