Scottish Tea Bread Fruit Loaf Food

MOIST AND FRUITY TEA LOAF

Steps:

• Place the sultanas and raisins in a bowl and pour over the hot tea. Cover and allow to soak up the liquid overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 170°C/325°F. Line a 2lb loaf tin with baking parchment or a loaf tin liner.
• Combine the flour, baking powder, sugar and mixed spice in a mixing bowl and stir together.
• Mix in the melted butter and eggs - using a wooden spoon or spatula.
• Add in the raisins, sultanas and any liquid left in the bowl.
• Stir together until everything is thoroughly combined. It will be a very wet mixture.
• Spoon the mixture into the lined loaf tin, place in the oven and bake for 1 hour - to 1 hour 15 minutes. You'll know it's done when an inserted skewer comes out clean. If you find that the top of the tea bread is starting to look too dark whilst it's in the oven, you can cover it will foil.
• Once cooked, remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes. Then remove from the tin and allow to cool completely on a wire rack before slicing and serving.

SCOTTISH TEA BREAD (FRUIT LOAF)

Steps:

• Put all the dried fruit into a bowl with the brown sugar and pour the hot tea over the top. Cover and let stand on the counter overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C)
• Butter and flour the inside of a loaf tin and set aside.
• Place the fruit mixture into a large bowl and add the beaten egg, flour and baking powder and mix until well combined.
• Pour mixture into prepared pan and place into preheated oven. Bake for 60 to 65 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.
• Allow to cool in pan for 15 minutes, then carefully remove cake from pan and place on cooling rack. Cool completely before slicing. Serve with a hot cup of tea.

MY GRANDMOTHER'S FAT FREE ENGLISH TEA LOAF - BREAD

Steps:

• You will need two 1 lb (450 g) loaf tins (6 x 4 x 2 1/2 inches), the bases lined with greaseproof paper (parchment).
• The evening before you want to bake these loaves, place all the fruits, including the candied peel, in a bowl, then dissolve the sugar in the hot tea, pour this over the fruits, cover the bowl and leave it overnight.
• Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 3, 325°F/170°C.
• Beat the egg and add the milk.
• Add the beaten egg & milk mixture to the bowl containing the fruits. Then sift in the flour, and mix them together well.
• Now divide the mixture between the prepared loaf tins and bake them in the centre of the oven for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours, or until they feel springy in the centre.
• Then straight away, loosen them with a palette knife and turn them out on to a wire rack to cool.
• Store in an airtight tin or cover with extra greaseproof paper and freeze. (For up to 3 months).
• These are great sliced, toasted and served with butter as a tea-time snack.

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.