Homemade Earl Grey and Orange Spiced Tea Loaf
There is nothing quite like a homemade Tea Loaf, bursting with sultanas and complemented by subtle hints of orange and warming spices! Perfect and tasty for the whole family big and small, and the ideal accompaniment to one’s afternoon cuppa!
Equipment
- 1 Measuring Jug Alternatively, a heatproof dish for adding hot tea to the fruit
- 1 Tea Towel Or something to cover the fruit when soaking
- 1 Large Mixing Bowl
- 1 900g Loaf tin
- 1 Baking Parchment Loaf Tin Liner
- 1 Measuring Scales
- 1 Small Mixing Bowl
- Kitchen Utensils
Ingredients
- 340 g Sultanas
- 1 Orange Zested
- 1/2 Lemon (zested)
- 300 ml Earl Grey Tea (freshly brewed) I tend to use approx. 3 tea bags
- 2 Eggs (beaten)
- 250 g Self-Raising Flour
- 190 g Soft Light Brown Sugar
- 1 tsp Ground cloves
- 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
For the Icing
- 60 g Icing Sugar
- 10 ml Water
- 1/2 Orange (zested)
Instructions
- To start, make 300ml of freshly brewed Earl Grey Tea in a measuring jug (I tend to use approx. 3 tea bags).
- Next, add the sultanas to the measuring jug full of freshly brewed tea, and the zest of 1 orange
- Mix well before covering the jug with a tea towel and leaving to soak at room temperature, for a minimum of six hours or ideally overnight to enable the sultanas to absorb the tea.
- Once the soaking period is done, heat the oven to 180 c and line a loaf tin with a parchment loaf tin liner (or grease the tin with margarine).
- Beat together the eggs in a large mixing bowl, and add the flour, sugar, ground clove, ground cinnamon and the zest of half a lemon.
- Next remove the tea bags from the soaked fruit, before adding the fruit and any residual tea (Do not discard any tea that is still in the jug!) to the bowl.
- Mix until well combined.
- Then transfer the mixture into the lined loaf tin, before placing in the oven for approx. 1 hour and 20 minutes or until the loaf is firm to touch and a skewer placed in the centre of the cake comes out clean.
- Once cooked, leave to cool for 10 minutes on a tray or wire rack.
To make the Icing
- Place the Icing sugar into a mixing bowl.
- Add to this warm water and stir until combined and the icing becomes thick enough to not run off the loaf (It may be necessary to add a drop or two more water to get the right consistency!)
- Wiggle a teaspoon over the loaf to get a drizzle pattern and then cover with the zest of half an orange to create a beautiful looking loaf!
Notes
Storage: This Earl Grey and Orange Spiced Tea Loaf can be stored in an airtight container for 5 days to a week.
To Freeze: This tea loaf freezes well; and can be stored for up to three months. It works well if the loaf is sliced before freezing, and then you can easily grab a slice at a time to have alongside your cuppa.