Tea Fruitcake Food

QUICK AND EASY BRITISH FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter a 6-inch round cake pan.
• Place flour in a bowl. Rub butter into the flour until mixture resembles fine bread crumbs. Add mixed fruit, 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar, and mixed spice. Stir to combine. Add milk and egg and mix until batter is soft and easy to drop.
• Drop batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle light brown sugar on top and pat down with the back of a spoon.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 1 to 1 1/4 hours.

EASY FRUIT LOAF

Steps:

• 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.

TEA FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• In a medium sized bowl mix together the raisins, currants, cherries, apricots, walnuts, lemon zest and brandy. Cover and allow to macerate, covered in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours and up to 7 days, stirring occasionally. Drain off any excess liquid before making batter. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour two 9 by 5-inch loaf pans. In an electric mixer cream the butter and the brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time and beat well. Sift together the dry ingredients and toss 1/2-cup of this mixture with the fruits. Add the remainder of the dry ingredients in 2 batches to the butter mixture, alternating with the orange juice and brandy. Beat until incorporated. Fold in the floured fruits and spoon batter equally into the prepared pans. Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour and a half or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

FRUITY TEACAKE

Steps:

• Place the dried fruits in a bowl and pour over the hot tea, orange juice and zest. Cover with cling film, then leave for at least 4 hrs or better still overnight.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease and line the base of a 2lb loaf tin. Beat together the butter and sugar until creamy, then beat in the egg followed by the flour. Carefully stir through the fruit mixture. Spoon the mixture into the tin, then smooth over the surface with the back of a spoon. Sprinkle all over with a thick layer of demerara sugar.
• Bake for 1 hr or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin, then turn out, cut into slices and serve.

BOILED FRUIT CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Butter and line a 900g loaf tin with baking parchment. Melt the sugar, butter and 225ml water in a large saucepan. Once melted, add the raisins, sultanas, currants and mixed peel. Bring to a gentle boil, and stirring occasionally, cook until reduced and softened, around 10-15 mins. Remove from the heat and leave to cool to room temperature.
• Tip the flour, mixed spice, bicarbonate of soda and a pinch of salt into a large bowl. Add the cooled fruit mixture and stir, then add the eggs and mix to combine. Bake for 45-55 mins until dark brown and a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 mins, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Cut into slices to serve.

TEA FRUITCAKE RECIPE COURTESY OF LYNN KEARNEY

Steps:

• In a medium bowl mix together the fruit, walnuts, lemon zest and brandy. Cover and allow to macerate in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours or up to 7 days, stirring occasionally. Drain off any excess liquid before making batter.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour 2 9"x5" loaf pans.
• In a large mixing bowl cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time and beat well.
• Sift together the dry ingredients and toss 1/2 c of this mixture with the fruit. This will help to "suspend" the fruit evenly throughout the loaf.
• Add the remainder of the dry mix in two batches to the butter mixture, alternating with the orange juice and brandy.
• Beat until incorporated. Fold in the floured fruit and nuts.
• Spoon batter evenly between the 2 loaf pans.
• Bake 1 hour and 15 min up to 1 hr and 30 minute or until a toothpick comes out clean.
• Cool 5 min in pan then turn out gently and cool on a rack.
• Can be wrapped and frozen whole or in slices.