PinkBecs’ Tropical Fruit Loaf

A delicious tropical fruit loaf with serving suggestions.

Ingredients

• To make about 10 slices, you will need:
• 1 large orange
• 175g (6oz) butter, softened
• 175g (6oz) caster sugar
• 3 medium eggs
• 100g (4oz) self-raising wholemeal flour
• 100g (4oz) plain flour
• 1 tsp of baking powder
• 250g (9oz) packet of chopped dried tropical fruit
• 900g (2lb) loaf tin, measuring about 20.5 x 12.5 x 8cm (8 x 5 x 3 1/2 inch)
• For the icing:
• 75g (3oz) icing sugar
• *Store in an airtight container and eat within 3 days

Instructions

STEP 1:

Turn the oven on to 180*C, 350*F, gas mark 4 before you start

STEP 2:

1. Grease the inside of the tin. Line the bottom with baking parchment. Then, grate the rind off the orange *Use the medium holes

STEP 3:

2. Squeeze the juice from the orange using a lemon squeezer. Put the rind, butter and sugar into a large bowl. Stir them well *Pour the orange juice into a jug

STEP 4:

3. Break the eggs into a small bowl and mix them well with a fork. Then, mix them into the creamy mixture, a little at a time

STEP 5:

4. Put both kinds of flourand the baking powder into a sieve, to sift them into a bowl

STEP 6:

5. Chop the fruit into small pieces. Put 25g (1oz) to one side. Add the rest to the bowl, with a tablespoon of the juice

STEP 7:

6. Gently turn the mixture over with a spoon, to mix everything well. Spoon it into the tin, then bake the loaf for 20 minutes *Smooth the top with the back of the spoon

STEP 8:

7. Carefully lift the loaf out of the oven. Cover the top with foil and bake it for another 50 minutes. Then, lift it out *Wear oven gloves

STEP 9:

8. Press the loaf with a finger. If it is firm, leave it in the tin for 15 minutes, then cool it on a wire rack. If not, cook a little more *Peel off the baking parchment

STEP 10:

9. Sift the icing sugar into a bowl and mix in a tablespoon of orange juice. Then, spread the icing over the loaf *Scatter the rast of the fruit over the top of the loaf