Baking: Earl Grey Tea Loaf

29th July 2015
It’s been a while since I’ve popped up a baking post on the blog eh? For a while life got in the way and when I did bake it was the same old things. Since I’ve had some down time lately I’ve rediscovered my love of trying new things in the kitchen and when Dr. Oetker got in touch with a selection of low fat recipes they had added to their site and the offer to send me some of the key ingredients to make them with, I couldn’t resist branching out.
For my first creation I decided to try out the Earl Grey Tea Loaf as it combines three of my favourite things- tea, apricots and cake!
For the cake you will need:

– 500g (1lb 2oz) dried apricots

– 200g (7oz) light brown sugar

– 300ml Earl Grey Tea (cold)

– 1 x Egg (beaten)

– 2ml Dr. Oetker Sicilian Lemon Extract* (2-3 drops)

– 300g (10oz) plain flour

– Dr. Oetker Baking Powder Sachets x 2*

Method:

1. Place the apricots, sugar and tea in a bowl. Mix well, cover and leave to stand in a cool place for about 3 hours until the apricots have plumped up a bit.

2. Preheat the oven to 170°C (150°C Fan, Gas Mark 3). Grease and line a 900g (2lb) loaf tin.

3. Mix the egg and Natural Sicilian Lemon Extract into the soaked fruit and tea. Gradually sift the flour and Baking Powder over the fruit, carefully folding in after each addition, until well incorporated.

4. Spoon into the prepared tin, smooth over the top and bake in the oven for about 1 hour until risen and lightly golden, and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Stand for 10 minutes before turning on to a wire rack to cool completely.

5. When cold, wrap well and store for 24 hours before slicing thinly, using a bread knife, to serve spread with low fat soft cheese and your favourite jam (or go wild and smother it in real butter, yum!)

How cute are the paper plates and napkins I picked up in Tesco, too? I can’t resist pretty tableware, even if it isn’t exactly required and I am running out of places to store it.

This loaf is one of my all time favourite things I’ve baked, the flavours of the apricots and tea work perfectly and it’s really lovely warm from the oven (what was that about storing it for 24 hours?)

Let me know if you give this a try, I reckon it could work well with some other dried fruits too.

end

Posted in baking, recipes

Permalink 8 Comments

8 comments for “Baking: Earl Grey Tea Loaf”

  1. AvatarCate

    Oh wow this sounds so yummy I may have to add it to my bake list xoxo

    ♥ Cateaclysmic ♥

  2. AvatarSophie Sierra

    OMG! An Earl Grey Tea Loaf is the most blissful recipe in the world. Ahh, a tea based cake is the dreamiest idea, and your cake looks beyond delicious Laura! Loving the watermelon-esque plates, I agree the plates and napkins are pretty darn cute 😀

    I’ve always loved your gorgeous recipes, I remember making your Nutella Fudge Brownie Bites way back when. I’m not much of a baker but after seeing your divine creation I just had to give them a go 😉 😀

    Sophie | soinspo xo

  3. AvatarTara

    Omgosh, I had no idea this existed! Absolutely genius.

  4. AvatarSuzanne

    Love love love those napkins! I picked some up a couple of weeks ago to use at our wedding – perfect for guests who want to take their cake home…. although when I go to weddings the cake doesn’t last till breakfast more of a midnight snack really 🙂

  5. AvatarKezzie

    Nice to see you having a good incentive to bake again even if the thought of dried apricots makes me cringe!x

  6. AvatarElizabeth Rebecca

    This sounds so delicious.

    Lizzie Dripping

  7. AvatarRachael

    Mmm love the idea of mixing apricots and Earl Grey together – sounds delicious!

  8. AvatarKatie

    Tea and cake?! Well I know what I’ll be trying soon