Halloween Irish Fruit Loaf

Step 1

Start this recipe the day before. To 300ml of boiling water, add 2 black tea bags and allow to steep for 5 minutes. Remove tea bags from the cup and set aside to cool. In a bowl, add dried fruit and the cooled tea and set aside to soak for a minimum of 6 hours but preferably overnight. Once soaked, drain the fruit and set aside.

Step 2

Into a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, mixed spice, sugar and salt. Mix well. Add soaked fruit.

Step 3

Mix together eggs, milk and orange zest and add to flour mixture. With a spatula, combine to form a fruity batter with no visible streaks of flour.

Step 4

Pre-heat oven to 160ºC (fan forced). Prepare and line a loaf tin with cooking spray and baking paper. Put the mixture into the tin and bake in the oven for 1 hour. Check the loaf at the 50 minute mark and loosely cover with foil if the top is browning too much.

Step 5

Pull the loaf out of the oven and onto a cooling rack, whilst still hot, brush the loaf with honey. Allow to cool in the tin before turning out onto a cutting board. Slice and enjoy with butter (if desired).

Make the tea and soak the dried fruit overnight to give you plump juicy fruit in the loaf.

If desired, add ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans to this recipe when adding the fruit.