Loaf cakes make great gifts for friends or family or neighbours; or just for you yourself. This is no exception. Who wouldn’t be thrilled to receive such a tasty looking and tasty tasting gift? What’s more, it can easily become a gluten free bake.

Makes: About 10 – 12 slices

Time: Prep: 25 – 30 min. Baking: 75 – 90 min + cooling. Decorating option: 15 – 20 min.

Level: Quite easy

Need: A 2lb/1kg loaf tin

Ingredients

75g/2½oz flaked almonds (+ some to decorate)
pinch of salt
1½ tsp baking powder
1 – 2 tsp ground cinnamon
110g/4oz plain flour (+ 1 tsp xanthan gum powder if using GF flour)
70g/2½oz wholemeal flour
50g/1¾oz ground almonds
110g/4oz butter/Stork, at room temperature
175g/6oz soft brown sugar
2 medium eggs, beaten
3 tbsp milk
175g/6oz ready-to-eat apricots, chopped into halves or thirds if large (+ some to decorate)

Method

1. Line the tin with baking parchment. Preheat oven to 180°C / 160°C fan / 350°F / Gas 4.

2. Spread the nuts out on a baking sheet and toast them lightly for about 5 min.

3. Into a large mixing bowl, sift the salt, baking powder, cinnamon, both flours and ground almonds. (If you’ve opted to use gluten-free flour then ad in 1 tsp xanthan gum powder.)

4. Add the sugar, eggs and half of the milk. Beat the mixture, beginning on a slow speed then a little faster to mix everything thoroughly. Stop mixing and fold in the apricots and almonds.

5. When it’s all mixed add some more milk if necessary to create a mixture that drops easily off a spoon, then spoon or pour it into the tin, level the top and bake in the centre of the oven for 75 – 90 minutes or until the cake feels springy in the centre.

6. Remove it from the oven, let it cool for about 10 minutes in the tin, then turn it out on to a wire tray and let it get completely cold.

7. To decorate, brush top with warmed & sieved apricot jam and add the reserved apricot and almond pieces. Brush again with more jam.

NB Going back to the idea of giving this as a gift, you will have noticed that I made two at the same time, both to give away. Simply double the ingredients if you need two.

Gallery

I hope you enjoy this lovely cake. If you want more cake recipes click this link, or have a look at my site for lots of other great recipes, both sweet and savoury.