This delicious Fruit Loaf is flavoured with strong tea and packed with mixed dried fruit. An incredibly easy tea bread recipe that is simply mixed together all in one bowl. Enjoy a slice with your cup of tea – simply heavenly!
Prep Time10 minutesmins
Cook Time1 hourhr
Soaking Fruit2 hourshrs
Total Time3 hourshrs10 minutesmins
Course: Breads & Loaf Cakes
Cuisine: British
Keyword: Fruit Loaf, Tea Bread, Tea Loaf, Yorkshire Tea Loaf
Make 250ml (1 cup) of tea, using tea bags or loose leaf tea. Leave the tea to steep for five minutes – you need a strong brew!
Pour the hot tea over the dried fruit and leave to soak for 2-3 hours or even overnight.
Preheat the oven to 170C (325F) or 150C (300F) Fan Setting. Line a 900g (2lb) loaf tin with baking paper or use a cake liner.
Add the eggs and brown sugar to the soaked fruit (no need to drain any liquid, should any remain in the bowl) and stir to combine.
Sift in the flour and add cinnamon, tea leaves and orange zest. Mix everything together, making sure no dry pockets of flour remain.
Pour the batter into the prepared cake tin and level. Bake for about 1 hour or until the cake is risen and a skewer inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean.
Lift the cake out of the tin using the baking paper and cool on a wire rack. Top with the orange zest, if using and slice to serve.
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Notes
You can use plain flour plus four teaspoons baking powder instead of self raising, if preferred.HOW LONG DOES THIS CAKE KEEP?Leftover fruit loaf keeps well for several days. Wrap your loaf in baking paper and store in an airtight container at room temperature for 5 days or even longer!CAN YOU FREEZE FRUIT LOAF?This is one of the BEST cakes for freezing. You can freeze an entire loaf, wrapped well in baking paper and foil. Thaw the loaf overnight in the fridge before slicing and serving.You can also freeze a sliced fruit loaf and simply pop a slice in the toaster, no need to defrost, whenever you fancy a little treat!HOW TO SERVE TEA CAKEThis fruity moist cake is perfect on its own, spread with butter or served with a slice of cheese such as Wensleydale. In fact this cake, cut into small thin slices, is perfect for your cheese platter!