Easy Homemade Sticky Malt Loaf Recipe

Name: Easy Homemade Sticky Malt Loaf
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 90 min
Ingredients: 2 tea bags (Yorkshire Tea works really well); 12 tablespoons malt extract (can be found in a good health shop); 2 tablespoon black treacle (or molasses); 1/4 cup/50 g. soft dark brown sugar; 3/4 cup/100 g. dried prunes (chopped); 1/2 cup/50 g. dried figs (chopped); 1/2 cup mixed dried fruit; 7/8 cup/125 g. plain flour and 7/8 cup/125 g. wholemeal flour (mixed together); 3 teaspoons baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 60 mins

Soaking: 20 mins

Total: 90 mins

Servings: 10 servings

Yield: 1 loaf

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Malt loaf is one of my quintessential childhood memories; a lovely filling snack after school when my Mum would cut thick slices of the sticky loaf and smother it in butter to keep us going until dinner time. It was rare to go on a school trip without a few slices wrapped in greaseproof. My love of malt loaf has never left me; the problem is the loaf is so moreish I can never stop at one slice.

This recipe, adapted from Felicity Cloake at The Guardian, uses a mix of dried prunes, figs, and some dried fruits, as I find they make an even stickier cake, but adjust the dried fruits to what you like.

It is so easy to make, but be warned, this malt loaf is seriously addictive.

2 tea bags, preferably Yorkshire Tea
3/4 cup malt extract, divided
2 tablespoons molasses, or black treacle
50 grams (1/4 cup) dark brown sugar
100 grams (3/4 cup) prunes coarsely chopped
50 grams (1/2 cup) dried figs, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup dried mixed fruit
120 grams (1 cup) all-purpose flour and 120 grams (1 cup) whole-wheat flour, mixed
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Butter, optional, for serving

Gather the ingredients.
Pour 3/4 cup/150 milliliters of boiling water over the tea bags and let the tea steep for 10 minutes to create a good strong brew.
Remove the tea bags, then add 9 tablespoons of malt extract (keep the remaining extract for glazing after the loaf is cooked), the molasses, brown sugar, and the dried fruits. Stir well and let to soak for 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, line a medium loaf tin (approximately 10 x 22 centimeters) with baking parchment and preheat the oven to 350 F/180 C/Gas 4.
Sieve the flour mixture and baking powder into a large baking bowl and add the salt. Add the soaked fruits and tea and mix thoroughly to create a thick batter.
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf tin and bake in the center of the oven for 20 minutes, then lower the heat to 325 F/160 C/Gas 3 and cook for a further 40 minutes. The loaf is cooked when pierced with a skewer or toothpick and it comes out just about clean.
Take the loaf from the oven and pour the remaining malted extract over the loaf while it is warm and leave the loaf to cool in the tin.
Wrap the loaf in paper and leave it to mature at room temperature for four to five days. In this time, the loaf will soften and become lovely and sticky.
To serve, cut into thick slices and smear with butter. If the loaf feels a little hard, warm it gently for 10 seconds in the microwave or in a warm oven for 5 minutes.

Traditional English Crumpets

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
257	Calories
0g	Fat
60g	Carbs
5g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 10
Amount per serving
Calories	257
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g	0%
Saturated Fat 0g	0%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 224mg	10%
Total Carbohydrate 60g	22%
Dietary Fiber 3g	9%
Total Sugars 37g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 0mg	2%
Calcium 128mg	10%
Iron 2mg	12%
Potassium 355mg	8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.