Homemade © J Sainsbury plc 2016 www.homemadebyyou.co.uk
Photo: Kris Kirkham
Spiced squash and fruit loaf
This spiced loaf cake improves with age, so it’s great to make at the weekend and eat during the week. Don't be fazed by the butternut squash – it adds moisture and a honeyed sweetness – but do start making it the day before baking so the fruit has time to soak
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Ready in 1 hour 30 minutes, plus overnight soaking
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Cooking time 1 hour
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Prep time 30 minutes
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Serves 8
Ingredients
- 250g mixed dried fruit
- 70g glacé cherries, halved
- 30g cut mixed peel
- 1 lemon, zest finely grated
- 100ml cider
- 125g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing
- 125g light muscovado sugar
- 1 tsp ground mixed spice
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 medium eggs, lightly beaten
- 150g plain flour
- ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 100g peeled and deseeded butternut squash, roughly grated
- 3 tbsp milk
For the icing
- 225g fondant icing sugar powder
- 1 tsp almond essence
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
Method
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1
Mix together the mixed dried fruit, glacé cherries, cut mixed peel, lemon zest and cider in a bowl. Cover and leave to soak overnight.
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2
Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan 160°C/gas mark 4. Grease a 900g (roughly 20cm x 10cm x 7cm-deep) loaf tin, then line it with baking paper.
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3
In a large bowl, beat together the butter, muscovado sugar, mixed spice and ground cinnamon until pale and fluffy, then gradually beat in the eggs. Sift the flour and bicarbonate of soda together into another bowl, mix, then beat into the butter mixture. Stir in the grated squash, followed by the cider-soaked fruit and the milk.
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4
Spoon the mixture into the prepared loaf tin and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes or until a sharp knife inserted into the centre of the loaf comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool in the tin.
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5
Sift the fondant icing sugar powder into a bowl and beat in the almond essence and lemon juice – make sure you add the lemon juice gradually as you may not need all of it. Remove the loaf from the tin and transfer it to a board. Spoon the icing over the loaf and leave to set before slicing.
