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Jocks loaf sliced on blue tray.
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Jock's Loaf [fruit loaf]

Jock's fruit loaf is a fine example of a vintage boiled fruit cake or tea loaf. If you like Jamaican gingerbread cake, then you'll probably enjoy this bake which also becomes nice and sticky as its stored. For a stronger ginger flavour, you could add a few teaspoons of ground ginger.
Enjoy a slice buttered or spread with fruit jam, or eat as it is. Older slices are perfect for toasting for breakfast or for a tasty snack.
Course Afternoon tea, Snack
Cuisine British
Keyword fruit bread, fruit loaf, fruit loaf cake, old-fashioned recipes, Vintage recipes
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 2 hours
Servings 10 -12 slices
Calories 226kcal
Author Leigh

Equipment

  • 1-1½ Ib loaf pan
  • parchment paper
  • saucepan
  • sieve
  • mixing bowl
  • mixing spoon
  • cooling rack

Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ cups water
  • 1 oz margarine
  • 1 cup caster or granulated sugar
  • 1 egg beaten a little with a fork
  • 1 cup dried fruit such as mixed dried fruit or raisins, sultanas, dried currants, etc
  • 2 cups plain flour
  • 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda [baking soda]
  • 1 heaped teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 heaped teaspoon mixed spice powder or replace with pumpkin or apple pie spice mix or a blend of ground ginger and cinnamon

Instructions

Boil the ingredients:

  • Add the water, sugar, margarine, and dried fruit to a saucepan.
    1 ¼ cups water, 1 oz margarine, 1 cup caster or granulated sugar, 1 cup dried fruit
  • Bring to the boil, reduce the heat, and gently boil for 5 minutes.
  • Remove the saucepan from the heat and set the pan aside until the mixture has cooled.

Bake the fruit loaf:

  • Preheat the oven to 350℃, 180℃, or Gas mark 4.
  • Prepare the loaf pan by greasing it with some extra margarine and lining it with parchment paper.
  • Sieve the flour and bicarbonate of soda into a mixing bowl.
    2 cups plain flour, 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda [baking soda]
  • Add the spices.
    1 heaped teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1 heaped teaspoon mixed spice powder
  • Pour the egg and dried fruit mixture into the mixing bowl and stir everything together. Make sure all the flour is stirred well into the mixture.
    1 egg
  • Add the mixture to the loaf pan. The mixture will be quite runny but it will bake fine.
  • Bake for about 1 hour or until well risen, golden, coming away from the sides, and a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. If you use a fan assisted oven your fruit loaf may bake quicker so do keep an eye on it.
  • After cooling in the pan for 5-10 minutes carefully remove the loaf from the pan and cool on a cooling rack.

Notes

  • I used a 250ml cup measurer for this recipe and I did not sieve the flour before measuring the cupful.
  • The original recipe calls for teacup measurements.
  • A heaped teaspoon measurement is simply a nice big teaspoonful!
  • All-purpose flour can be used instead of plain flour.
  • For the dried fruit I used raisins and a few tablespoons of mixed candied fruit peel.
  • Jocks Loaf will be good for 4-5 days stored wrapped in kitchen foil and kept in a bread bin or suitable covered container.
  • Staler slices can be toasted and spread with margarine or butter, fruit jam, or honey.
  • Jocks fruit loaf is a fine example of a vintage boiled fruit cake or tea loaf and if you like Jamaican gingerbread cake then you'll probably enjoy this bake - though for a stronger ginger flavour you could add a few teaspoons of ground ginger.
  • You can replace the water with the same amount of tea.