200g mixed dried fruit soaked in 100ml cold tea or fruit juice
100g butter
100g soft brown sugar
1 Tbsp treacle
2 tsps. spice – Your choice
2 eggs
200g flour
1.5 tsps. baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
- Soak the dried fruit in black tea overnight.
- Place the soaked fruit, butter, sugar, treacle and spice into a large pan and gently bring to the boil, stirring occasionally. Simmer on a medium heat, with quite a fast roll, for around 10 to 12 minutes until the mixture turns syrupy and coats the back of a spoon. Try not to rush this step.
- Take off the heat and allow to cool: the mixture will thicken further on cooling.
- Add the eggs to the cooled batter and beat well.
- Heat the oven to 325°F.
- Grease and line a 2lb loaf tin.
- Weigh the flour, baking powder and baking soda and set aside.
- Add in the flour mixture and beat to combine.
- Transfer immediately to the prepared loaf tin and cook for 45 minutes, until well risen and golden brown. You can test its readiness by inserting a skewer - if it comes out clean, it's baked. Cool in the tin.