Tea Breads, Buns And Muffins Recipes - Dried Fruit Loaf

Ingredients

• 450g/2 1/4 cups mixed dried fruit, such as currants, raisins, chopped dried apricots and dried cherries

• 300ml/1 1/4 cups cold strong tea

• 200g/1 cup dark brown sugar

• grated rind and juice of 1 small orange

• grated rind and juice of 1 lemon

• 1 egg, lightly beaten

• 200g/1 3/4cups plain flour

• 15ml/1 tbsp baking powder

• 1.5ml/1/4 tsp salt

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Method:

1. In a bowl, mix the dried fruit with the cold tea and leave to soak overnight.

2. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Line the base and sides of a 23 x 13cm/9 x 5in loaf tin with greaseproof paper and grease the paper.

3. Strain the fruit, reserving the liquid. In a bowl, combine the sugar, orange and lemon rind, and fruit. Pour the orange and lemon juice into measuring jug; if the quantity is less than 250ml/1 cup, then top up with the soaking liquid. Stir the citrus juices and egg into the dried fruit mixture.

4. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together into another bowl. Stir into the fruit mixture until blended.

5. Transfer to the tin and bake until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean, about 1 1/4 hours. Leave in the tin for 10 minutes before unmoulding.