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a tea loaf cut into slices on a serving board.
cookingwithmykids

Tea loaf

THIS CLASSIC TEA LOAF IS DELICIOUSLY MOIST AND FULL OF TEA SOAKED FRUIT. IT'S A GREAT SIMPLE RECIPE THAT'S PERFECT FOR BEGINNER BAKERS AND KIDS TO TRY.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Fruit soaking 6 hours
Total Time 7 hours 45 minutes
Servings: 8
Course: Afternoon tea
Cuisine: British
Calories: 323
Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients
  

  • 350 g (1 ½ cups) dried mixed fruit
  • Zest of 1 lemon or orange
  • 300 ml strong tea
  • 1 egg
  • 275 g (2 ¼ cups) self raising flour
  • 225 g (1 cup) soft brown sugar

Equipment

  • Digital scales
  • Freestanding mixer
  • Measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • Spatula
  • 2 lb loaf tin
  • Wire rack

Method
 

PREPARE THE FRUIT
  1. Brew 3-4 tea bags in hot water for five to ten minutes until it is nice and strong.
  2. Measure out the dried fruit, and zest the lemon/orange and pop it in a small bowl. Add the brewed tea and leave it to soak for at least six hours, or preferably overnight.
MAKE THE TEA LOAF
  1. Preheat your oven to 160C / 140C / 320F and grease and line a 1lb loaf tin. We find the easiest way to line the tin (unless you have loaf liners) is to cut a strip the width of the tin, and then do the same in the other direction. Leave some overhanging so it's easier to remove from the tin later.
MIX THE REMAINING TEA LOAF INGREDIENTS TOGETHER
  1. Measure out the flour, egg and sugar and put them in a mixing bowl.
    Mix everything together.
ADD THE FRUIT
  1. Pour the fruit and tea into your mixing bowl, and gently fold it into your mixture. Keep mixing until it is all well combined.
BAKE THE TEA LOAF
  1. Spoon or pour the batter into your prepared loaf tin. Use a spatula or the back of a spoon to spread the mixture into the corners and level the top.
  2. Bake the tea loaf for 1 ¼ - 1 ½ hours. It's ready when it's turned a nice golden colour and a skewer or sharp knife inserted in the middle should come out clean.
    If the top of your loaf starts browning too much on top before the inside is cooked, cover it loosely in foil.
    Remove it from the oven and leave it to cool in the tin for 10-15 minutes. Then take it out the tin and pop it on a wire rack to cool completely.