A beautifully moist, tender loaf packed with sweet dried fruit and a hint of warm spice. This easy Fruit Loaf Cake is perfect with a cup of tea or coffee and tastes even better the next day.
Ingredients
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup milk
- 1 cup mixed dried fruit
- ½ cup raisins
- ¼ cup chopped candied cherries or dried cranberries
- 2 tablespoons orange zest
- 1 tablespoon flour, for coating the fruit
Instructions
1. Prepare the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9 × 5-inch loaf pan and line it with parchment paper.
2. Prepare the Fruit
Place the dried fruit, raisins, and cherries or cranberries in a bowl. Toss them with 1 tablespoon of flour. This helps prevent the fruit from sinking to the bottom of the loaf.
3. Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
4. Cream the Butter and Sugar
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes.
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla and orange zest.
5. Make the Batter
Add the dry ingredients gradually, alternating with the milk. Mix just until everything is combined.
Gently fold in the dried fruit mixture.
6. Bake
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.
Bake for 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
If the top begins browning too quickly, loosely cover it with aluminum foil during the final part of baking.
7. Cool
Let the loaf cool in the pan for about 10–15 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
For an extra-special finish, dust the cooled loaf with powdered sugar or drizzle it with a simple orange glaze.
Tips for the Best Fruit Loaf
- Toss the fruit with flour before adding it to the batter.
- Don’t overmix the batter, or the loaf may become dense.
- For extra flavor, soak the dried fruit in warm orange juice for 15–20 minutes before using.
- Let the loaf cool completely before slicing for cleaner pieces.
- The flavor often becomes even better after resting overnight.
Serving Ideas
Slice and serve with butter, cream cheese, jam, or simply enjoy it on its own with tea or coffee.