Super Easy Tea Loaf Recipes

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.

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.

YORKSHIRE TEA LOAF

Steps:

• In a large bowl, add the freshly made tea to the mixed dried fruit. Cover and set aside for a minimum of 4 hours, ideally overnight, to allow all the goodness of the tea to soak into the fruits.
• In the morning, preheat the oven to 160 C fan-assisted and grease and line two 1-pound loaf tins with baking parchment. I use cake liners.
• Add the eggs into the soaked mixed fruit, followed by the sugar. DO NOT remove any of the remaining liquid. Mix thoroughly.
• Add the finely ground tea leaves to the flour and incorporate before adding this into the fruit mixture. Mix thoroughly.
• Pour evenly into the prepared tins and bake for 50 - 55 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Remove from oven.
• Leave in the tins to cool completely before turning out.

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.