Delia Smith Sultana Cake Food

SULTANA CAKE (SCOTTISH)

Steps:

• Cover the sultanas in water and let them soak overnight.
• Bring the water and sultanas to the boil and then strain off the water.
• Mix in the butter or margarine while the sultanas are still hot.
• Mix in the sugar, beaten eggs and almond essence.
• Sift in the flour and salt and then add in the chopped nuts (if desired).
• Mix well.
• Grease an 8" round baking tin and line the bottom with greased, greaseproof paper (vegetable parchment or waxed paper).
• Pour in the cake mixture and smooth the top.
• Bake in a moderate oven at 350F for 30 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to 300F until the centre is firm to the touch.
• Empty cake from the baking tin and store in an airtight container.

OLD-FASHIONED SULTANA CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 150°C and grease a 20cm square or round cake tin.
• Pick over the sultanas to remove any stem- nothing worse than a crunch in your cake.
• Place sultanas in a saucepan and cover them with cold water. Bring to the boil and then drain off the water. Return sultanas to saucepan.
• Stir in the chopped butter and set aside the sultanas to cool.
• Beat together the eggs, essence and sugar. Then add in the sultanas.
• Add your flour and baking powder to another mixing bowl and aerate with a kitchen whisk (or you can sift them together).
• Stir the flour into the sultana mix.
• Pour into prepared cake tin and bake for 1 1/2 hours.

FARMHOUSE SULTANA CAKE

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 170c, butter and base line a cake tin.
• Sift plain flour, with the mixed spice, and bicarb of soda into a large bowl; stir in wholemeal flour.
• Rub the butter in until it resembles fine breadcrumbs, then add the sultanas and sugar.
• Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients, and add the milk.
• Beat gently until well mixed and of a dropping consistency, add more milk if needed. Turn into prepared tin.
• Bake in center of oven for 1 hour 40min. Until well cooked.
• Turn out onto wire rack.

TEA LOAF

Steps:

• Mix the sultanas, raisins and orange zest in a large mixing bowl. Pour over the tea and cover the bowl. Leave to sit for a minimum of 6 hours or ideally overnight to allow the dried fruit to soak up all the liquid.
• Heat the oven to 180C/160 fan/gas 4. Grease and line a 900g loaf tin. Add the eggs, flour and sugar to the soaked fruit, ensuring everything is well combined. Spoon the mixture into the tin and place in the centre of the oven for 1 hour 30 mins or until firm to the touch. Leave to cool in the tin for 15 mins before transferring to a wire rack.
• Cut into thick slices and serve with butter. To store, wrap tightly and keep in an airtight container for up to five days. The loaf will taste even better after a few days.