Tea Loaf: Nicky Cornock

This is the easiest cake ever, so simple to make, and (confirmed by everyone who tastes it) delicious!

Ingredients

 350 g mixed dried fruit (any combination, stone fruit, berries, glace fruit etc)

225 g soft light brown sugar

300 ml hot tea made with two tea bags (decaf can be used)

275 g self-raising flour

Zest of a lemon

Juice of a lemon

1 large egg beaten

Method

Put the dried fruit and sugar in a bowl and pour over the hot tea.

Leave to soak overnight or if you are in a hurry for two hours.

Heat the oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2

Line a 900g/2lb loaf tin with baking parchment or use a loaf tin liner

Add the flour, lemon zest and juice and the beaten egg to the fruit mix

Stir with a spoon ‘til mixed through.

Bake for 11/4 to 11/2 hrs or until it is well risen, firm to the touch and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.

Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes and then turn out onto a wire rack to cool.

Tastes good on the day but tastes even better over the next few days.

Delicious spread with some good quality butter.