Yorkshire Tea Cake Recipes

YORKSHIRE TEA LOAF

Steps:

• In a large bowl, add the freshly made tea to the mixed dried fruit. Cover and set aside for a minimum of 4 hours, ideally overnight, to allow all the goodness of the tea to soak into the fruits.
• In the morning, preheat the oven to 160 C fan-assisted and grease and line two 1-pound loaf tins with baking parchment. I use cake liners.
• Add the eggs into the soaked mixed fruit, followed by the sugar. DO NOT remove any of the remaining liquid. Mix thoroughly.
• Add the finely ground tea leaves to the flour and incorporate before adding this into the fruit mixture. Mix thoroughly.
• Pour evenly into the prepared tins and bake for 50 - 55 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Remove from oven.
• Leave in the tins to cool completely before turning out.

YORKSHIRE TEA CAKE

Steps:

• Place the tea bags in a bowl and add 200ml/7fl oz hot water, the brandy, rosewater, honey and dried fruit. Cover and soak overnight, or until the fruit is plump. (If you are short of time, you can cheat a little by warming the ingredients gently to speed up the process).
• Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4 and line a 450g/1lb loaf tin with baking paper.
• When the fruit is plump, strain it and discard the liquid and tea bags.
• Sift the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg into a large bowl. Add the marmalade and brown sugar. Stir in the egg and melted butter and combine to form a soft dough. Add the fruit and thoroughly mix together.
• Transfer the mixture to the prepared loaf tin and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a wooden skewer comes out clean.
• Remove from the oven and leave in the tin for 10 minutes. Turn out and cool on wire rack.
• To decorate the cake, brush the cake with marmalade. Cut the marzipan fruits in half and place on top of the cake. Use the gold leaf to gilt the marzipan fruits.

TEACAKES

Steps:

• Warm the milk with the butter in a pan until the butter has melted, then add 100ml water to cool the mixture to room temp. Tip the flour, yeast, sugar, spice and 1 tsp salt into a bowl, making sure the yeast is on the other side of the bowl to the salt. Make a well in the flour mixture and pour the milk and butter in, mixing until it forms big flakes, then bring together with your hands. Tip on a surface and knead until smooth (about 5 mins). Put the dough into a large, lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp tea towel and leave until doubled in size, so about 1-1 ½ hours.
• Line a tray with baking paper. Tip the mixed dried fruits into the dough and knead them in, trying to disperse them evenly throughout the dough. Cut your dough into 6 even-sized balls, take each ball and, using the cup of your hand, and pressing down a little with your palm, roll the ball in a circular motion on the surface to create tension across the top of the bun and a neat round shape. Place onto a tray about 5cm away from each other and press down with your palm to flatten the dough down a little, creating the teacake shape. Cover loosely with an oiled sheet of cling film, for a further 45 mins, or until they have doubled in size.
• Meanwhile, heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas mark 6. Brush the top of each bun liberally with the egg wash, then bake for 20 mins on the top shelf of the oven, until the buns are golden and well risen. Allow to cool on a wire rack, then slice in half, toast and slather with butter if you like.

YORKSHIRE TEA LOAF WITH MIXED SPICE, CHERRIES AND RAISINS

Steps:

• Weigh out the currants and raisins and place into a large bowl. Pour on the hot tea, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave to steep for 12 hours or overnight.
• The next day, the fruit will be very plump and juicy looking. Some tea will still remain in the bowl which is fine.
• Grease a 2 lb. loaf tin and preheat the oven to 150°C / 300°F.
• Cut the cherries into halves or thirds, depending on size, and add to the soaked raisins along with the sugar and spice. Stir until mostly dissolved.
• Add the eggs and mix well until evenly combined.
• Scatter the flour over the surface of the mixture. Using a wooden spoon, start at the centre of the bowl and beat the flour into the mixture, working your way out towards the edge until everything is well incorporated.
• Pour the batter into the prepared tin and bake for 1 hour and 30 to 40 minutes until golden brown on top and a skewer inserted in the middle comes out relatively clean (it may still be sticky if you hit a raisin).
• Allow to cool for 15-20 minutes in the tin before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

YORKSHIRE CHEESECAKE TARTLETS

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 220'C/Gas mark 7.
• First make the pastry. Measure the flour into a bowl and rub in the fats with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Bind to a soft but not sticky pastry with the water. Roll out the pastry thinly on a lightly floured work surface, and use a 3inch (7.5cm) cutter to stamp out 24 rounds. Use these to line the prepared bun trays and chill.
• For the filling, mix the cheese with the butter and then stir in all the remaining ingredients (the mixture will be fairly wet). Spoon generously into the chilled pastry cases and bake in the pre-heated oven for about 15 minutes or until the cheesecakes are beginning to brown on top. Allow to cool slightly, before serving warm.

IRISH TEA CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9-inch round pan.
• In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing until fully incorporated; stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; stir into the batter alternately with the milk. If the batter is too stiff, a tablespoon or two of milk may be added. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.
• Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack, then turn out onto a serving plate. Dust with confectioners' sugar right before serving.