medshi8 This moist rich Mary Berry Fruit Cake Loaf is made with mixed dried fruit, butter, and self-raising flour, and ready in 1 hour and 30 minutes. The scent of warm mixed spices slowly taking over the kitchen while it bakes is incredibly comforting. I find myself making this whenever I need a reliable treat for afternoon tea.
Why This Classic Works
When I first tried making a traditional fruit cake, it ended up dry and crumbly. I quickly learned that simmering the fruit with butter and sugar first makes a massive difference.
This method plumps up the raisins and sultanas before they even hit the oven. It creates a genuinely soft crumb that stays fresh for days in a tin.
Mary Berry Fruit Cake Loaf Ingredients
- 250g mixed dried fruit
- 100g butter
- 100g light muscovado sugar
- 150ml water
- 2 large eggs
- 200g self-raising flour
- 1 tsp mixed spice
How To Make Mary Berry Fruit Cake Loaf
- Simmer the fruit: Place the mixed dried fruit, butter, sugar, and water in a large saucepan. Heat gently until the butter melts, then simmer for 10 minutes and let it cool slightly.
- Preheat and prep: Preheat your oven to 150°C (130°C fan) and line a 2lb loaf tin with baking parchment.
- Add the eggs: Once the fruit mixture has cooled for about 15 minutes, beat in the eggs one at a time until fully incorporated.
- Fold the dry ingredients: Sift in the self-raising flour and mixed spice. Gently fold the mixture together until no streaks of flour remain.
- Bake the loaf: Pour the batter into the prepared tin and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes. A skewer inserted into the center should come out clean.
Recipe Tips
- Line the tin properly: Baking parchment prevents the sugary fruit edges from sticking to the loaf pan.
- Cool before adding eggs: If the boiled fruit mixture is too hot, it will scramble the eggs.
- Check early: Ovens vary, so test the cake with a skewer at the 1-hour mark to avoid overbaking.
What To Serve With Fruit Cake Loaf
This cake is practically begging for a hot cup of Earl Grey tea or strong coffee. For a richer dessert, serve a thick slice with a sharp wedge of mature Cheddar cheese or a dollop of clotted cream.
How To Store
Keep the cooled cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days. It actually tastes better on the second day as the flavours mature. You can also wrap it tightly in foil and freeze for up to three months.
FAQs
Can I use different dried fruits?
Yes, you can swap the mixed fruit for chopped dates, cranberries, or apricots as long as the total weight stays the same.
Why did my cake sink in the middle?
Sinking usually happens if the oven door is opened too early or if the cake needed a few more minutes to bake.
Can I make this gluten-free?
You can substitute the self-raising flour with a gluten-free blend, but you may need a splash of milk if the batter feels too stiff.
Nutrition
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Total Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
- Sodium: 150mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 45g
- Protein: 4g
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Mary Berry Fruit Cake Loaf
10
servings15
minutes1
hour55
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minutesMary Berry Fruit Cake Loaf features a moist rich crumb packed with simmered mixed dried fruit. Ready in under two hours, this simple bake is an easy weekend project. Serve a thick slice with your afternoon tea.
Ingredients
250g mixed dried fruit
100g butter
100g light muscovado sugar
150ml water
2 large eggs
200g self-raising flour
1 tsp mixed spice
Directions
- 1. Simmer the fruit: Place the mixed dried fruit, butter, sugar, and water in a large saucepan. Heat gently until the butter melts, then simmer for 10 minutes and let it cool slightly.
- 2. Preheat and prep: Preheat your oven to 150°C (130°C fan) and line a 2lb loaf tin with baking parchment.
- 3. Add the eggs: Once the fruit mixture has cooled for about 15 minutes, beat in the eggs one at a time until fully incorporated.
- 4. Fold the dry ingredients: Sift in the self-raising flour and mixed spice. Gently fold the mixture together until no streaks of flour remain.
- 5. Bake the loaf: Pour the batter into the prepared tin and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes. A skewer inserted into the center should come out clean.
