The hubby requested his favourite Delia fruit loaf – no fat required for this one.
DELIA SMITH’S BOOK OF CAKES
ISBN 0340223766 – PAGE 54
Makes: A 2-lb loaf or two 1-lb loaves.
Skill Level – Easy
Taste Test: This loaf is very moist and has a slight crunch to it. It improves after keeping for a couple of days and becomes sticky in texture.
8 oz (225g) wholewheat self-raising flour (or white self-raising flour)
6 oz (175g) demerara sugar
6 fl oz cold tea
8 oz (225g) sultanas
1 large egg
pinch of salt
Pre-heat oven to Gas Mark 4 (350°F) (180°C) at least twenty minutes before baking.
Use a very well greased (preferably lined) 2-lb(900g) loaf tin or two 1-lb(450g) loaf tins.
Place the sultanas in a basin and pour cold tea on them, leave to soak for about five hours or preferably, overnight. After soaking, the sultanas will have become large, plump and juicy. Then stir the flour, salt and sugar into the sultana mixture. Beat the egg and stir this in. Spoon into the prepared tin, spread it out evenly and bake the cake for 1 hour. Leave in the tin for 15 minutes before turning out. Cool and serve in slices spread with butter.
TIP 1: Buy cake liners to go inside the tins – this makes life much easier.
TIP 2: I make a little extra tea for this – sometimes the cake needs an extra tablespoon of liquid after mixing in all of the ingredients.
TIP 3: For the 2-lb loaf, if it isn't cooked after the 1 hour cooking, cover with foil and bake for another 10 minutes. The 1-lb loaves will only take 1 hour to cook.
TIP 4: It is easier to slice after being in the fridge for a few hours.
TIP 5: If you feel the top of the loaf is a little hard after cooking, cover with a teatowel whilst cooling and the steam from the loaf will soften the crust, although it will soften with keeping.
TIP 6: Slice the loaf and keep in the freezer, it will also improve whilst it is in there.
TIP 7: I like to make this loaf with white self-raising flour and also a mixture of currants, raisins and sultanas.
Kitchen Equipment Used: Loaf tin liners purchased from Lakeland Limited.
