These quick and easy loaf cakes use store cupboard ingredients and are fun to make for a family or for guests. Each loaf is baked in the same size of 2lb loaf tin. Prepare the tin by greasing it then lining it with greaseproof paper, or a tin liner. When cold, the loaves are delicious sliced and spread with butter or margarine.
Belgian Fruit Loaf
Ingredients
- 1 cup of dried fruit
- 1 cup of sugar
- 1 cup of milk
- 125g (4oz) margarine
- 2 cups of self-raising flour
- 1 egg
Method
- Heat oven to 180C (350F).
- Put fruit, sugar, milk and margarine into a saucepan.
- Bring to the boil, then leave to cool slightly.
- Add the flour and egg to the cooled mixture and stir well.
- Pour into the prepared tin.
- Bake in the oven for about 50 minutes.
- Cool for a few minutes in the tin, then turn onto a wire rack.
The following loaf does not have any added fat, so there is a bigger quantity of dried fruit as well as tea for added moisture.
Lincolnshire Tea Loaf
Ingredients
- 325g (12oz) of dried fruit
- 125g (4oz) Demerara sugar
- About 225 ml (7½ fl oz) cold tea
- 1 large egg
- 225g (8oz) self-raising flour
Method
- Heat oven to 180C (350F).
- Mix the fruit, sugar and tea together in a large bowl.
- Cover with a cloth and leave overnight.
- Next day, lightly beat the egg and stir into the fruit mixture.
- Add the sieved flour and mix thoroughly.
- Pour into the prepared tin.
- Bake in the oven for about 1¼ to 1½ hours.
- Cool for a few minutes in the tin, then turn onto a wire rack.
Gingerbread Loaf
Ingredients
- 125g (4oz) butter
- 300g (11oz) dark Muscovado sugar
- 100ml (3½ fl oz) milk
- 2 eggs
- 250g (9oz) plain flour
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
- 100g (3½ oz) stem ginger, chopped
- 3 tablespoon of ginger syrup (from the jar)
Method
- Heat oven to 180C (350F).
- Put the butter and sugar into a saucepan and heat gently until melted.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the milk and eggs.
- Stir in the sieved flour, ground ginger and bicarbonate.
- Add the chopped stem ginger and syrup and stir well.
- Pour into the prepared tin.
- Bake in the oven for about 1 hour until firm.
- Cool in the tin for a few minutes, then turn onto a wire rack.
Date and Walnut Loaf
Ingredients
- 300g (11oz) self-raising flour
- 2 teaspoons ground mixed spice
- 50g (2oz) shelled walnuts, chopped
- 150g (5oz) dates, chopped
- 300ml (½ pint) milk
- 110g (3½oz) dark Muscovado sugar
- 4 tablespoons sunflower oil
- Walnut halves to decorate
Method
- Heat oven to 180C (350F).
- Put the sieved flour and spice into a large bowl.
- Add the chopped dates and walnuts and mix.
- Whisk the milk, dark sugar and oil together.
- Add to the flour and spice. Stir until thoroughly combined.
- Pour into the prepared tin.
- Arrange the walnut halves along the top.
- Bake in the oven for about 45 to 50 minutes until firm.
- Cool for a few minutes in the tin, then turn onto a wire rack.
Other easy recipes to make at home include fruit cakes and nutritious banana cakes.
Rosemary Gemmell - Professional freelance writer of published short stories and articles in the UK, US and online. Author of historical romance and ...
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