Fruit Tea Loaf

No added sugar or fat

Makes 20 slices

Cooking time 30-40 minutes

Ingredients

1 teabag (can be flavoured I like blackberry & blueberry tea infusion)

400ml of boiling water

125g ready to eat prunes, quartered

125g ready to eat dates, quartered

100g Cherries (frozen or glaze cherries left over from Xmas)

100g Lemon peel

100g ready to eat apricots, quartered

100g sultanas

*25g chopped up ginger (Optional)

3tsp ground mixed spice

1 ripe banana (medium)

4 large eggs

300g self-raising flour (can use gluten free)

½ tsp baking powder

2 tbsp lemon juice

4tbsp soya milk (can use other plant-based milks)

Method

Put the teabag in a jug and pour in 400ml of boiling water, steep for about 5 minutes. In a saucepan add in the prunes, dates, cherries, lemon peel, apricots, sultanas, ginger, mixed spice, lemon juice and pour in the tea. Put the pan on a low heat and simmer, mixing everything together. Cook gently for about 5 minutes or until most of the liquid has been absorbed.

Leave to cool for about 30-40 minutes, preheat the oven 170C/Fan 150C/Gas 3 ½. Line a square cake tin 21cm by 21cm (8in by 8in) with baking parchment.

Peel banana and cut into pieces add into food mixer/processer add in the eggs and milk blend together to make a puree. Add in the flour and baking powder blend till smooth. Put into a large mixing bowl and then slowly add in the cooled fruit and stir until it is all combined.

Put in the oven and bake in the centre for between 30-40 minutes until the cake is pale golden brown and a skewer comes away clean. Take out of the oven and cool and then slice into portions. You can freeze it in portions or wrap well and store in the fridge for a week.

Serve on its own or with a dollop of double cream.

*If you don’t like some of the fruit add in the ones you like.