6/16/2014

Spiced Fruit Loaf


A treat when freshly baked and spread with butter, then try it toasted for breakfast the next day

  • Cooking Time Prep 30 mins
    Cook 20 mins
  • Skill Level Moderately easy
  • Servings Makes 2 x 2lb loaves, each cuts into 8 slices
Nutrition per serving
  • Kcalories

    190

  • Protein

    5g

  • Carbs

    36g

  • Fat

    4g

  • Saturates

    2g

  • Fibre

    2g

  • Sugar

    14g

  • Salt

    0.35g

Ingredients
  • For the dough
  • 450g strong white flour, plus extra for dusting
  • 2 x 7g sachets easy-blend yeast
  • 50g caster sugar
  • 150ml warm milk
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 50g unsalted butter, melted, plus extra for greasing
  • oil, for greasing
  • For the spices
  • 1½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • For the dried fruit
  • 50g dried apricots, chopped
  • 50g dried figs, chopped
  • 50g pitted dates, chopped
  • 50g sultanas
  • 50g glacé cherries, chopped
  • juice 1 orange
Directions
  1. Soak the dried fruits in the orange juice for about 30 mins, then sieve, reserving the juice.
  2. Put the flour, yeast, caster sugar and 1 tsp salt into a large mixing bowl with the spices and soaked fruit and mix well. Make a well in the centre and pour in the warm milk, reserved orange juice, the beaten egg and the melted butter. Mix everything together to form a dough-start with a wooden spoon and finish with your hands. If the dough is too dry, add a little more warm water; if it's too wet, add more flour.
  3. Knead in the bowl or on a floured surface until the dough becomes smooth and springy. Transfer to a clean, lightly greased bowl and cover loosely with a clean, damp tea towel. Leave in a warm place to rise until roughly doubled in size-this will take about 1 hr depending on how warm the room is.
  4. Knock the dough back by kneading for a few secs. Dust 2 x 2lb loaf tins with flour. Halve the dough. Use a little flour to help you shape each half into a smooth oval, then pop them into the tins. Cover both loosely with a clean, damp tea towel and leave to prove in a warm place for about 20 mins. Meanwhile, heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
  5. Bake for 20 mins, then cool in the tins before turning out and slicing.

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