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Vegan Fruit Loaf Recipe

Vegan Fruit Loaf Recipe

Here at Yum Vegan HQ, we are all about turning old classics into vegan masterpieces.

I did use to love making fruit loaf! So, it was awesome to create this scrumptious vegan fruit loaf that is so full of incredible flavours.

Vegan fruit loaf is a quint-essentially British recipe and is also quite often referred to as vegan tea loaf. There are always slight variations in this recipe, from the type of dried fruit that is used, to the spices and flavours.

Vegan Tea Loaf

Vegan fruit loaf / vegan tea loaf is ideal for brunch or a snack to give your friends when you invite them over for coffee.

This particular bread is consumed all year round in Britain but it does have some distinct festive flavours so I also think it works great as a brunch at Thanksgiving or Christmas.

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while you will now we are a little international team of friends based all over the place. I work as a nurse in the UK and during the pandemic, we constantly had fruit loaf delivered to us from a nearby bakery.

It was so tasty and loved by all of us. Every time we had a spare minute to huddle in the office, we’d toast the fruit loaf and spread butter on it with jam.

It is literally the most heavenly comfort food.

Washed down with a very typically Britsh cup of tea (with milk in it) yes I know that is bizarre to some but you should really try it!

Vegan Fruit Bread

In terms of ingredients they are quite simple, you don’t require anything too fancy. If you can’t get your hands on something particular it should be easy to substitute.

I used pre-mixed dried fruits. I can buy a massive bag of it all mixed up already. However if that’s not something you can get your hands on, you can make your own mix with dried fruits such as sultanas, raisins and cranberries.

Vegan Fruit Loaf Recipe

It’s very easy to make this recipe. All you need is:

  • 2.5 cups (600g) of all purpose flour 
  • 1 cup (225g) of soft brown sugar
  • The zest of 1 orange 
  • 1 tbsp of ground mixed spice 
  • One tbsp of ground cinnamon 
  • 1 1/4 cups (300mls) of English breakfast tea ( 1 tea bag needed)
  • 2 tbsp of flax seed dissolved in 1/3 a cup (75mls) of water (binder)
  • 1 cup (225g) of melted vegan butter 
  • 2 cups (500g) of dried mixed fruit

Method for Vegan Fruit Bread Recipe

Start by mixing the dry ingredients together in a mixing bowl. This includes the all purpose flour, cinnamon and ground mixed spice. Make a well in the centre to add the wet ingredients.

When it comes to the wet ingredients start by making the flax egg which will bind the bread together. Mix the flax with tepid / warm water to activate it. Set the flax to one side.

Next boil the kettle and make a large cup of tea, give it a good mix around before removing the tea bag. I used English breakfast tea but there are plenty of others you could use.

A lot of recipes recommend Earlt Grey Tea. I personally detest Earl Grey but if you like it, knock yourself out and use it for sure!

You could pre-heat the oven around now whilst you finish everything. I suggest a heat of around 350F / 180 C.

Grate the skin of an orange. Set to one side.

Melt the butter in a saucepan or microwave until liquid. Next add the tea, melted butter, sugar and orange zest to the dry ingredients and mix together well. Add the dried fruits in and give it one more final mix before adding it to a greased and lined loaf tin.

If you are looking for a suitable loaf tin, the one pictured below is the perfect size and available on amazon. Buy a loaf tin here.

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Good Cook Set of 2 Nonstick Steel Loaf Pans, Standard-Sized 9″ x 5″
  • SET OF TWO STANDARD-SIZED 9″ x 5″ LOAF PAN: Ensures a perfect bake every time for your favorite bread and cake recipes
  • PROVIDES EVEN HEAT DISTRIBUTION: Distributes heat evenly for thorough baking
  • SCRATCH-RESISTANT NONSTICK COATING: Scratch-resistant and dishwasher-safe nonstick coating provides excellent release while also making clean up quick and easy
  • CONVENIENT AND VERSATILE: Metal spatula safe so you can serve your baked goods right out of the pan
  • MADE WITH DURABLE STEEL: Measures 9″ x 5″ and is made with heavy duty gauge steel to resist warping and offer high quality baking for years to come

Cooking The Fruit Loaf

Add the loaf to the pre-heated oven on the middle shelf. Keep in mind the heat and timings is a guide and every oven is different when it comes to power. Keep an eye on things to ensure nothing is burning.

I suggest 80 minutes in the oven but check it regularly. When the cooking time is finished, remove the loaf from the oven and set to one side until it is cool enough to handle.

Take the loaf out of the tin and put it on a cooling rack. Allow the vegan fruit loaf to completely cool. I have no idea why this one particular step is so difficult in my house. Everyone seems to follow the aromas and want to eat it before it’s completely ready.

Does anyone else have this issue with hungry kids / partners? Anyway if you manage to allow it to cool completely before anyone else gets their hands on it, you are going to find it a lot easier to cut it into slices later. It may crumble otherwise.

Storage

Keep the vegan fruit loaf wrapped up in foil or paper of choice. Add it to an air tight container and keep it in a cool dry place. You can keep the cake for up to a week.

Serving Vegan Fruit Loaf

I love this fruit loaf fresh with butter and jam but it actually tastes incredible toasted. Just cut a slice and pop it in the toaster on a low heat for a minute. Spread butter on it with jam, it is literally one of my most favourite foods ever.

Serve with a traditional cup of British tea or a coffee if you prefer. You could eat this loaf for breakfast, brunch or an afternoon snack.

When slicing the loaf up, you should get 8-10 slices. Try not to cut it too thick if you plan to toast it. For a perfect pairing, make some of this apple raspberry jam to go with it.

You may also enjoy

Yield: 8

Vegan Fruit Loaf

vegan tea loaf

Try this scrumptious vegan fruit loaf, perfect fresh or also yummy toasted with warm melted butter and jam or spread of choice. Vegan fruit loaf is also sometimes referred to as vegan tea loaf. It's the perfect brunch or tasty afternoon snack. Flavoured with mixed spice, cinamon and of course the mixed dried fruit tantalize the taste buds!

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2.5 cups (600g) of all purpose flour 
  • 1 cup (225g) of soft brown sugar
  • The zest of 1 orange 
  • 1 tbsp of mixed spice 
  • 1 tbsp of ground cinnamon 
  • 1/4 cups (300mls) of English breakfast tea
  • 2 tbsp of flax seed dissolved in 1/3 a cup (75mls) of water (binder)
  • 1. cup (225g) of melted vegan butter 
  • 2 cups (500g) of dried mixed fruit

Instructions

  1. In a mixing bowl whisk together the flour, ground mixed spice and cinamon together.
  2. Melt the butter until completely liquid in a pan or the microwave.
  3. Disolved the flax in warm water.
  4. Prepare the tea with 300 mls of boiling water, mix the tea bag around before taking ti out.
  5. Pre-heat the oven to 350 F / 190 C
  6. Finely grad the orange skin creating a zest.
  7. Make a well in the centre and add the tea, melted butter, flax, sugar and mix the ingredients together.
  8. Add the dried fruits and orange zest, mix together well.
  9. Grease and line a loaf tin with baking paper (see reccomended products below for sizes).
  10. Add to middle shelf in an oven for 1hr 20 min, ensure to check regularly. Temperatures and time is a guide as every oven is different. If the outer crust looks like it may burn, turn the heat down a little.
  11. Check the centre is not wet by putting a knife in the centre. Check the knife for wet ingredients and cook further if not dry.
  12. When the cook time is finished, remove from the oven and set to one side. Once cool enough to handle remove the vegan fruit loaf from the tin and add to a cooling rack.
  13. Allow the vegan fruit loaf to cool completely, this will ensure the loaf is well formed and easy to cut into portions.

Notes

  • If you can not find pre-mixed dried fruits, you can make it yourself by mixing dried fruits such as raisins, sultanas and cranberries.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 203Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 14mgCarbohydrates: 40gFiber: 3gSugar: 6gProtein: 5g

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