Great British Bake Off 2019: Cake Week

Whisks and mixing bowls at the ready, because The Great British Bake Off is back! This year Head Pastry Chef Brian Roberts will be baking along to the show, sharing his favourite recipes and top tips – keep an eye out for his blogs each week.

Week one is cake week where the bakers are asked to make their own version of a fruit cake, so Brian is whipping up a county favourite, Yorkshire tea loaf, that’s perfect with a slice of Wensleydale cheese.

Yorkshire tea loaf

Makes one 8 inch round cake.

Ingredients

140ml strong Yorkshire tea (2 bags)
150g mixed fruit
1 tsp ground mixed spice
125g self raising flour
1 egg
80g light soft brown sugar

– The day before you make the cake, soak the mixed fruit and mixed spice in the Yorkshire tea a large bowl and leave in the fridge overnight.
– Pre-heat the oven to 160°C and line an 8 inch round greased baking tin with baking parchment (a release tin works well if you have one).
– Add the self raising flour, egg and sugar into the soaked fruit and stir until combined.
– Bake for 40 minutes or until firm to the touch.

Serve with sliced Wensleydale cheese – the acidic flavours of the cheese go perfectly with the sweetness of the cake.