My favourite things to make with tea, though, are still of the baked variety. From cookies (including biscotti) to cake and even bagels, I'm game to try it in almost anything. That said, it's hard to overly improve on something as fabulous as the Rich Tea Cake from The Vegan Baker, but a variation doesn't have to mean improvement - simply a difference! With a change of tea as my inspiration, I took the loaf-cake to the tropics - packing it with candied ginger, apricots, macadamia nuts, dates, cranberries, almonds, pumpkin seeds and raisins. Without any refined flour or sugar, the vegan recipe is really able to stand on its own flavour-wise and each element is distinct while still part of the larger whole. It's a perfect snack to have with, well, tea - any time of day. For our family this found a spot on the plate after spicy sandwiches, soup or grilled burgers (with or without a scoop of frozen yoghurt for good measure).
Tropical Teacake
Makes one 9x5" loaf, 12 slices
¼ cup diced figs
⅓ cup raisins
½ cup diced dates
⅓ cup Craisins
4 dried apricots, diced
¼ cup diced candied ginger
1 ½ cups strong-brewed tropical-flavoured tea (I used Peach-Mango), hot
3 tbsp agave nectar
⅓ cup pineapple juice
⅓ cup melted coconut oil (pick one with flavour, like Gold Label from Tropical Traditions)
1 ½ cups spelt flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp allspice
½ tsp ginger
⅔ cup toasted pumpkin seeds
¼ cup toasted sesame seeds
⅔ cup chopped macadamia nuts
½ cup slivered almonds
- Combine the figs, raisins, dates, Craisins, apricots, ginger, tea, agave and pineapple juice. Cover and let stand 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 350F and grease a 9x5" loaf pan.
- Add oil to the bowl of fruit, then mix in the dry ingredients until blended.
- Fold in the seeds and nuts.
- Spread in the pan and bake for 50-55 minutes, until tests done.
- Cool in the pan for 30 minutes, then carefully turn out onto a rack and cool completely.
Calories: 302.4
Total Fat: 16.0 g
Cholesterol: 0.0 mg
Sodium: 22.1 mg
Total Carbs: 32.5 g
Dietary Fiber: 5.1 g
Protein: 5.1 g
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