Gluten Free Chai Tea Loaf
It’s a baking day but I probably should be outside enjoying the first sunny day of the year but I’ve a craving for cake that must be fulfilled. This tea loaf takes a little time but for any of you who like chai tea, the spicing of this cake is delicate and tastes better a day or two later as the flavours develop further (nothing lasts that long in my house) whilst the cake remains moist due to all the tea soaked fruit.
You can use your favourite chai tea mixes but I have infused the milk with my favourite spices by bringing it up to nearly boiling, then leaving to cool completely. Once the milk is infused, strain the milk through a sieve and discard the spices. I used a 2lb loaf tin but you can make 2 smaller loaves if you have 1lb tins and put one in the freezer to eat another time.
Ingredients
1 tea bag (your choice, I used English breakfast tea)
50ml milk
2 inches cinnamon
1 star anise
200g mixed dried fruit, I used sultanas, cranberries and raisins
10 crushed cardamom pods
1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste
1/4 nutmeg, grated
Pinch of salt
200g butter, softened
200g light brown sugar
250g gluten free self raising flour
additional pinch of nutmeg and cinnamon
3 eggs
Method
- Make a strong cup of black tea. Discard tea bag and put in a large bowl. Add dried fruit and allow the fruit to plump up while the tea cools.
- Add milk to a saucepan. Add whole spices and vanilla bean paste, then bring the milk to just below boiling. Turn off the heat and allow the milk to cool completely.
- Cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one by one and mix well. Add the cooled milk and 50ml of the cold tea mixture.
- Add the soaked fruit and stir gently with a spatula or wooden spoon.
- Fold in the flour until you have a smooth batter. The mix will seem a little wet but the cake is cooked for 50-60 minutes in a low oven (140 degrees).
- Pour into a greased 2lb loaf tin and place in a preheated oven. Check after 50 minutes by inserting a skewer into the centre of the cake. If it comes out clean the cake is done. Leave to cool completely.
- Serve as it is or spread slices thickly with butter. I hope you’ll agree it’s delicious.
