Iced Banana Tea Loaf -

Iced Banana Tea Loaf

Ingredients

75 g (3 oz) butter, softened
150 g (6 oz) soft light brown sugar
2 eggs, beaten
450 g (1 lb) bananas, mashed
200 g (7 oz) self-raising flour, sifted
½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda pinch of salt
100 g (4 oz) walnuts, roughly chopped
100 g (4 oz) icing sugar, sifted
1-2 tablespoons (15-30 ml) orange juice
25 g (1 oz) honey-coated banana chips
40 g (1½ oz) multi-coloured glacé cherries, roughly chopped

Details

Serves: 8

Method

1 Grease and line the base of a 900 g (2 lb) loaf tin.

2 Beat together the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs a little at a time, beating well after each addition.

3 Add the bananas and beat well. Fold in the flour and bicarbonate of soda with the salt and walnuts. Spoon the mixture into the pre­pared tin and level the surface with the back of a spoon.

4 Place in a preheated oven, 180˚C (350˚F), Gas Mark 4, for 45 minutes, then cover with foil. Cook for a further 25 minutes, or until well risen and just firm. Turn out and cool on a wire rack.

5 Mix the icing sugar and orange juice to form a smooth icing, and drizzle the icing over the cake. Top with banana chips and cherries.

PREPARATION TIME: 25 MINUTES
COOKING TIME: 1 HOUR 10 MINUTES
OVEN TEMPERATURE: 180˚C (350˚F), GAS MARK 4

Related food category:

• Teatime Favourite