Gillian's dreamy Earl Grey Tea Cake

This cake is simply to die for !!! You simply MUST try it - either for afternoon tea, or for a scrumptious dessert served with cream, custard or icecream. Mmmmmmmm..............

Earl Grey Tea Cake

1.5 cups of chopped fresh dates

1 tsp bicarb soda

 1 cup of brewed earl grey tea

 2 apples peeled and grated

1 1/4 cup of self raising flour

3/4 cup of brown sugar – for a lighter version, use raw sugar and a tablespoon of golden syrup

150 grams butter melted – if you prefer a less “greasy” cake, reduce the butter to 80g- it still works well

2 tsp of natural vanilla extract

4 eggs

Preheat Oven to 180C. Line baking loaf tin with baking paper. Place dates, bicarb of soda and tea in a bowl. I left the tea bag in the bowl during this time for around 10 minutes. Using a barmix or hand held blender, blend the mixture till smooth. Set aside. Mix flour, apple and sugar in a bowl till combined. Add in butter, vanilla, eggs and date mixture. Mix well with wooden spoon.

Spoon into loaf tin and bake for 45-50 minutes till cooked when tested with a skewer.

Rest and cool before removing from tin.