Fruity Tea Loaf Makeover

by | 1st April 2017
Categories: BLOG and HEALTH & NUTRITION.
Tags: chai tea loaf, cherry bakewell tea loaf, coffee and walnut loaf, fruity tea loaf and ginger tea loaf.

 

I ♥ tea loaf. Even in its most basic form with just 3 ingredients of flour, tea soaked dried fruit and an egg you can create a tasty nutritious healthy teatime treat. We are all human after all and even the most health conscious of us give in to a cake craving every now and then. Tea loaf if low fat with no added sugar, the sweetness comes from the dried fruit.

Why not give the simple tea loaf a go and replace those sugary supermarket cakes that can give you such a sugar rush, after which your blood sugar levels drop dramatically which in turn triggers the release of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. Subsequent overexposure to cortisol and other stress hormones can disrupt almost all your body’s processes. This puts you at increased risk of numerous health problems, including:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Digestive problems
  • Headaches
  • Heart disease
  • Sleep problems
  • Weight gain
  • Memory and concentration impairment

Why not be prepared for that craving and have some tea loaf in the freezer or make a batch at the weekend to sustain you through the week.

FLAVOUR MAKEOVER – I’ve been compiling a list of my favourite flavours and ingredients.

Click here to see the basic recipe and then experiment with these combos:

Cherry Bakewell Tea Loaf – soak the dried fruit in tea made using a Twinning’s Cherry Bakewell teabag, reduce the dried fruit and add in 70g glace cherry halves and 1 tsp almond essence. Divine.

Click here for the complete recipe.Photo of Bakewell Tart Tea Loaf

 

 

 

 

Ginger Tea Loaf– add 2 tsps. of ground ginger to the flour and replace some of the dried fruit with 30g crystallized ginger or stem ginger.

Cranberry and Cinnamon Tea Loaf – replace some of the dried fruit with 60g dried cranberries and add 2 tsp ground cinnamon.

Chai Tea Loaf – soak the dried fruit in tea made using a Chai Green Teabag

 

SMELL THE COFFEE – Yes, it’s that simple, just by replacing the tea soaking liquor with coffee you can create a whole new beast of a cake.

Coffee and Walnut Tea Loaf – Here I’ve add sultanas, coffee essence and walnuts for a lovely coffee cake.

Coffee & Walnut Cake PhotoClick here for the full recipe.

 

 

 

 

I either make mine in a loaf tin with a loaf liner or a 9” square silicone cake tray that needs no liner.

Let me know which is your favourite or if you come up with your own winning flavours.