(Very) easy tea loaf recipes

When my children were young....oh I miss that....a recipe circulated for a 123 cake. It was dead easy and obviously had 1 cup of this and 2 cups etc.....plus the fruit was soaked in tea so the cake was dark.

Anyone remember and can help?

I also do a Bara Brith which is pretty similar to Irish Tea Bread, my husband likes a slice when he comes home from golf. I tend to Google recipes, this one is called Magmu's Bara Brith and is really simple.

3 strong tea bags, half a pint of boiling water, 6o ozs soft brown sugar, 8 to 9 ozs dried mixed fruit, 8ozs self raising flour, half a teaspoon of mixed spice, half a teaspoon of ground cinnamon.

Steep the mixed fruit and brown sugar overnight in boiling water. Then mix together dry ingredients and fold into wet ingredients adding beaten egg. Pour mixture into greased 2lb loaf tin. Bake at 170c for 1 and a half hours approx until knife comes out clean. There are several variations on line I believe.

Ah, I think that may have been the one I looked at first, Terri.
I feel a bit more confident to experiment now.

I think you do have to experiment MissAdventure and adjust the amount of liquid sometimes, too much can make a runny mixture that doesn't always set in the middle. Trial and error what's the worst that can happen

MissAdventure. I use a Zena Skinner recipe book, remember her? from the BBC. Sorry, I digress.

Millie’s Fruit Loaf. is quick, easy and foolproof.
Using a teacup/ mug, that holds 8 fl ozs water.

1 teacup cold tea (without milk)
1 teacup granulated sugar
1 teacup mixed dried fruit
2 ozs butter or margarine
1 large egg. Beaten
2 x teacups SR flour. Sieved

Put tea, sugar, butter and fruit, into a saucepan, and bring to a simmering point. Simmer for 2-3 minutes.
Take pan from heat and allow to cool, until lukewarm.
Add the beaten egg and sieved flour.
Mix all well together, and pour into a lined 2lb loaf tin.

Bake at Reg 4, 350F, 180C. for 1-1.25 hours.

Turn out onto a wire cooling tray, and allow to get cold, before storing in an airtight container.

Thanks auntieflo.
I can't remember Zena, but that sounds a lovely recipe.
Its amazing how many variations there are!

Your cake looks delicious, MissAdventure. You must post the recipe. ?
Can we call round for some tea and cake?

Oh, thank you!
Yep, cuppa and cake for anyone willing to risk my baking.

I forgot the eggs
Sorry was that my fault as I forgot them then remembered in the next post?

Never mind, it's still delicious!

I remember Zena Skinner - it's an age thing MissA

That recipe sounds the same as my Australian boiled fruit cake.
Perhaps 'Millie' was Australian!

1 cup All Bran
1 cup s/r flour
1 cup mixed fruit
1 cup milk
1 cup sugar

Bake for about 1 hour at 180.

Save meh a piece please with butter and a cup of coffee.

Well it worked fine without the eggs, jalima so think how much money I've saved!
Lots of grans would be very pleased with me.

I've just had a dollop of butter on it with a cup of coffee, Barmey and it really is nice.
Its tastes like a manor house cake with a hint of cinnamon.

I still use the recipe they showed on Blue Peter years ago.
Grease a loaf tin. Set oven to 170. Choose a large cup and make a good strong tea-bag tea.....I mix and match...real tea, floral etc. Once brewed pour into large mixing bowl and add 2 cups (the one you use to make tea) of any dried fruit and leave to soak. When its cold then add 2 cups SR flour and one cup any sugar. Mix well and then add one large egg. Mix again and then pour into loaf tin and cook 40 mins - 1hr or until skewer comes out clean.

Greg's here I come

allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/29526/simple-boiled-fruit-cake.aspx
This one doesn’t have tea in it, but turns out well every time. I usually make two at a time in 8 inch round silicone ‘tins’.
I cut down the sugar, increase the fruit and spice.

I have the urge to make one now but we still have some Christmas cake left (courtesy of a kind friend).

I found this one and have used it numerous times, increasing the quantities to make several if baking for a cake sale or WI tea. It's simple and easy to make, the recipe is from an Irish flour miller so uses their products but any SR flour etc will work!

www.odlums.ie/recipes/tea-brack/

MissAdventure
You've probably baked and eaten it by now but here's a recipe for next time. I suppose you can vary the fruit mixture and the flavour of tea. The Hairy Bikers have a video on YouTube (they were much younger) as does Mary Berry and some others.

Thank you, all recipes welcome.
I shall try them all out, eventually. Its taken 55 years for me to make my first one, so it may be some time before I get round to the others though.

You have a willing team of testers on here

I'll book a minibus to fetch you all next time I make one.
We'll make it a celebration of my domesticity.

I'll bring some sloe gin (home-made)

Now you’re talking Jalima