Quick Apricot, Apple and Pecan Loaf Cake

Fixer Upper is not only a blog about renovation but love and things that inspires us. 

So, talking about love... I share with you a recipe from Delia Smith prepared by my friend.

175g/6oz no-soak apricots, each chopped in half 

175g/6oz cooking apple (1 medium apple), cut into 1cm/1/2in chunks with skins on

175g/6oz pecan nuts 

a pinch of salt 

1 1/2 level teaspoons baking powder 

2 rounded teaspoons cinnamon 

110g/4oz wholewheat flour 

110g/4oz plain flour 

110g/4oz butter, at room temperature 

175g/6oz soft brown sugar

2 x size 1 eggs, beaten 

3 tablespoons milk

For the topping:

4 cubes demerara sugar, roughly crushed 

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

You will also need 1 x 900g/2lb bread loaf tin with a base measurement of 9 x 16cm (3 1/2 x 6 1/2 in), lightly buttered. Pre-heat the oven to 180C/350F.

First of all when the oven has pre-heated, spread the nuts out on a baking sheet and toast them lightly for about 8 minutes. After that remove them from the oven to a chopping board, let them cool a bit, then chop them roughly. 

Meanwhile, take a large mixing bowl, sift the salt, baking powder, cinnamon and both flours into it, holding the sieve up high to give the flour a good airing and adding the bran from the sieve to the bowl as well. Then simply add all the rest of the ingredients except the fruit and nuts. Take an eletric hand whisk, begin to beat the mixture on a slow speed, then increase the speed to mix everything thoroughly till smooth before lightly folding in the apricots, apple and pecans. 

When it's all folded in add a drop more milk if necessary to give a mixture that drops easily off the spoon when you give it a sharp tap, then pile the mixture into the tin, level the top and sprinkle on the crushed sugar cubes and cinnamon. Bake in the centre of the oven for 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 hours or until the cake feels springy in the centre. 

After that remove it from the oven, let it cool for about 5 minutes before turning it out onto a wire tray. Let it get completely cold before transferring it to a cake tin.

Bon appétit. 😋