Spiced fruit loaf
This spiced fruit loaf is a fragrant tea bread packed with mixed dried fruit, honey and warm mixed spice. The Thermomix TM7 kneads the soft buttermilk dough evenly and warms it gently for rising, delivering a moist, aromatic loaf with cinnamon and nutmeg in every slice, ideal for afternoon tea.
About this recipe
Spiced fruit loaf Thermomix TM7 recipes bring the comforting aroma of a traditional bakery into your own kitchen with minimal effort. This recipe for spiced fruit loaf uses mixed dried fruit, buttermilk, honey and instant yeast to create a tender, moist crumb infused with cinnamon, nutmeg and mixed spice. If you have been searching for an easy fruit loaf recipe for your all-in-one kitchen machine, this is the one: the TM7 mixes and kneads the dough evenly, then provides gentle warmth so the yeast works perfectly every time. It makes a wonderful snack or breakfast slice, spread with a little butter, and it is equally at home on a festive table during the colder months. Because the dried fruit is plumped in buttermilk and water, every slice stays juicy, while the honey adds a natural caramel sweetness that balances the warming spices beautifully.
Preparation tips
- Soak the mixed dried fruit in the buttermilk and water before starting so the fruit plumps up and distributes evenly through the loaf, preventing it from sinking in clumps during baking.
- Grease the loaf tin thoroughly and line the base with baking paper, as the honey in this spiced fruit loaf can caramelise and stick if the tin is not well prepared.
- This fruit loaf keeps well wrapped in baking paper for several days and actually improves in flavour; toast slices lightly and serve with salted butter for a lovely contrast to the mixed spice.
- If you prefer a milder loaf for children, reduce the mixed spice and nutmeg slightly and let the honey and dried fruit carry the sweetness instead of the warming spices.
Recipe variations
- Lactose-free version: replace the buttermilk with a plant-based milk soured with a teaspoon of lemon juice; the dough still rises beautifully and the dried fruit and honey keep the crumb moist.
- Festive version: add chopped candied orange peel, a handful of cranberries and an extra pinch of cinnamon to turn this loaf into a Christmas morning treat, dusted with icing sugar before slicing.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Weighing accuracy - The integrated scale of the Thermomix weighs the baker's flour and honey directly in the bowl for consistent dough. [Weighing]. [Multi-Function]
- Even mixing - The TM7 blends buttermilk, water and instant yeast into a uniform liquid base before the flour is added. [Mixing]. [Multi-Function]
- Hands-free kneading - The Thermomix kneads the sticky fruit dough hands-free until smooth and elastic, no worktop mess. [Kneading]. [Hands-Free]
- Precise warming - Controlled heating from the TM7 gently warms the mixed dough so the yeast rises reliably. [Heating]. [Precision Control]
- Aromatic grinding - The TM7 grinds whole nutmeg and cinnamon fresh, intensifying the mixed spice flavour of the loaf. [Grinding]. [Multi-Function]
Ingredients
- mixed dried fruit
- buttermilk
- water
- honey
- dried instant yeast
- baker's flour
- ground cinnamon
- mixed spice
- ground nutmeg
- sea salt