Mary Berry Earl Grey Tea Loaf Recipe

This fragrant Mary Berry Earl Grey Tea Loaf Recipe is a plump and moist fruit bread, which relies on soaking mixed dried fruits in strong Earl Grey tea overnight. It’s a fat-free baking classic, best served sliced and generously buttered for afternoon tea.

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Mary Berry Earl Grey Tea Loaf Ingredients

The Soak:

• 375g Mixed Dried Fruit: A blend of sultanas, raisins, and currants works best. The variety provides different textures.
• 225g Light Muscovado Sugar: This sugar dissolves into the hot tea to create a rich, treacle-like syrup that keeps the cake moist without added fat.
• 300ml Strong Hot Earl Grey Tea: Made with 3-4 tea bags to ensure the bergamot flavor cuts through the sugar.

The Batter:

• 1 Large Egg: Beaten. This provides the structure and binding.
• 275g Self-Raising Flour: Essential for the rise, as the heavy wet fruit needs help lifting.
• Finely Grated Zest of 1 Lemon: A Mary Berry touch that lifts the floral notes of the Earl Grey.

How To Make Mary Berry Earl Grey Tea Loaf

1. Soak the Fruit (Crucial Step): Place the mixed dried fruit and light muscovado sugar into a large bowl. Pour over the hot, strong Earl Grey tea. Stir well until the sugar begins to dissolve. Cover the bowl with a clean tea towel and leave to soak overnight (or for at least 6 hours). The fruit should swell up and absorb most of the liquid.
2. Prep: The next day, preheat the oven to 160°C (140°C Fan / 325°F). Grease a 900g (2lb) loaf tin and line the base and sides with baking parchment.
3. Mix: Add the beaten egg, self-raising flour, and lemon zest to the bowl of soaked fruit (no need to drain any remaining liquid). Stir well until thoroughly combined. The batter will look lumpy and fruit-heavy.
4. Fill: Spoon the mixture into the lined loaf tin and level the surface with the back of a spoon.
5. Bake: Bake in the center of the preheated oven for approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours. The loaf is done when it is dark golden, firm to the touch, and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
6. Cool: Leave the loaf to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then turn it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Recipe Tips

• Patience is Key: Do not rush the soaking process. If you don’t soak the fruit for at least 6 hours, the tea won’t be absorbed, leaving you with hard raisins and a runny batter that will result in a soggy-bottomed cake.
• Preventing a Burnt Top: Because this cake has a long bake time and high sugar content, the top can darken quickly. Check it after 1 hour; if it looks like it’s getting too dark, cover it loosely with foil for the remainder of the cooking time.
• Slicing Texture: This is a “cut-and-come-again” cake. It is notoriously difficult to slice neatly while warm because it will crumble. Wait until it is completely cold before slicing.
• The Zest Addition: Don’t skip the lemon zest. Earl Grey contains oil of bergamot (a citrus fruit), and the fresh lemon zest amplifies this flavor, making the tea note more distinct rather than just generic “sweet fruit.”

What To Serve With Mary Berry Earl Grey Tea Loaf

• Salted Butter: Since the cake itself contains no butter, it is traditionally served with a thick layer of good quality salted butter.
• Wensleydale Cheese: The fruitiness of the loaf pairs excellently with crumbly white cheese.
• Lemon Curd: For a sweet, citrusy topping that matches the zest in the batter.

How To Store Mary Berry Earl Grey Tea Loaf

• Maturing: Like many fruit cakes, this loaf improves with age. Wrap it in parchment and foil and keep it in an airtight tin. It will become stickier and more flavorful over 2-3 days.
• Freezing: Wrap the cold loaf (whole or sliced) in cling film and foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. It thaws perfectly at room temperature.

Mary Berry Earl Grey Tea Loaf Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 260 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 62g
• Fat: 1g
• Protein: 4g
• Sugar: 45g

Nutrition information is estimated per slice (without butter).

FAQs

Try More Recipes:

• Mary Berry Banana And Pecan Loaf Recipe
• Mary Berry Marmalade Loaf Cake​ Recipe
• Mary Berry Coconut Loaf Cake Recipe​