Bunloaf and Swallows and Amazons

My mother is making bunloaf today. We always have bunloaf at Christmas and my mother took over making it from my grandmother about ten years ago. The recipe we have was one my great-grandmother used at home in Liverpool and my grandmother remembered having to carry the heavy loaves on a wooden board to the bakers where they would be cooked. I assume their domestic oven was not big enough.

I thought everybody had bunloaf at Christmas until I grew-up and got about a bit more! Then I realised hardly anyone had heard of it. Every so often I google the term to see if I can find anything else about its origins and today happened across this piece which talks about its presence in Swallows and Amazons, a book I shamefully have never read. Is it true? I do hope so! It would seem from the article's references to the Cumberland coast and the Isle of Man, and my family acquiring the recipe in Liverpool that the Lancashire/Cumberland coast seems to be its main location. Has anyone else heard of it? My mother's version is very similar to the recipe quoted in the article: no eggs and definitelyy no tea or beer.

I have written about (and photographed) bunloaf in the past when writing about J L Carr and edible archaeology.

Comments

[Cornflower]

I think the Manx version referred to in the article is bonnag, something I've eaten (having grown up in the Isle of Man) and indeed made. There's more about it here: http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/history/diet/bonnag.htm and if you scroll down you'll see a recipe for 'Mrs. Kerruish's Bunloaf' and two other types!

[Juxtabook]

Thanks for that Karen. The one closest to my mother's recipe is the first one below Mrs Kerruish - no eggs, black treacle, etc. I am delighted to have a bit more information about it.

[Thomas at My Porch]

I loved that line about edible archaeology in the Carr novel. And I am most curious to try bunloaf.

[Magnus Smith]

I'm a massive fan of Swallows and Amazons, but had never tried bunloaf, so a few years ago I made it (according to the recipe you link to). The trouble is...I have no idea if it turned out right!

To me, it seemed a bit dry (it was tasty with butter spread on) - so perhaps I overcooked it? Or perhaps it is supposed to be dry! (It is called loaf, not cake, after all.)

Do post your own recipe, if it isn't a family secret!