Sunday, June 19, 2011

Apricot and Coconut Loaf (Trackie Dack Cake)


Yes it is quite plain looking. It has no WOW factor whatsoever and its ingredients include All Bran for crying out loud so I think that makes it definitely daggy.  There's no chocolate, cream or icing.  It's not pretty or dainty and it's definitely not a celebration cake  - nobody wants All Bran in a celebration cake trust me. 

For the record, THIS is a celebration cake.  Hmm, that comparison doesn't do much for the cause does it.  It's like comparing myself to Heidi Klum.  That cake screams pretty dresses and champagne whereas this cake...doesn't.  This cake says (in a sensible voice), put on your trackies and let's have a cup of tea but sometimes that's just what we need isn't it?  Are you still with me?  Good, cause despite it's Plain Jane appearance, this cake has many virtues, all of which I shall now extol.  Incidentally, whats the difference between cake and loaf?  Is it called a loaf just cause its made in a loaf tin?  Please let me know.  If you know. 

Back to the cake loaf.  This is so easy to make it's ridiculous, it's all done in one bowl (I love one bowl anything), and no scales are required.  Apart from the All Bran everything is a one cup measure so it's fantastic for kids to make.  It has one cup of milk in it and this could easily be swapped for soy milk, making it suitable for vegans.  When everything is assembled it takes literally less than five minutes to get into the oven - you will probably wait longer for your oven to heat up.  It freezes well (told you it was a long list).  I often make this for school lunches and double the recipe, cut it into slices when cooled and then freeze.  It doesn't need butter but it tastes really good with it (what doesn't).  It's substantial but not heavy, I'm sure it's kinda healthy and it tastes REALLY GOOD.  

Enough extolling, pretty soon it could sound like boasting and that's not the nature of this cake loaf.  Give it a try, trackies optional this is a democracy after all, but they will make it taste better.  Just saying.


Apricot and Coconut Loaf
1 cup wholemeal self raising flour
pinch of salt
1 cup coconut
1 200g pack of diced, dried apricots
(you can dice them yourself but that means more work)
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup All Bran
I cup milk

Preheat oven to 180C and grease and line a loaf tin.
Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl.
Add the milk and stir well to combine.
Spoon the mixture into the loaf tin and smooth the top. (Don't need to be too fussy)
Bake for 35-40 minutes, testing with a skewer to check that it's done.
Run a knife around the edge when you get it out of the oven because the apricots can make it a bit sticky and cool in the tin.