I have been flirting with grain-free eating for a while (to cut down on the phytic acid that grains produce. All the other Paleo advantages are a bonus!) I am not very rigorous in it’s application, but rarely eat pasta, bread or rice anymore, having found delicious and unusual alternatives (courgette pasta, cauliflower rice and wheat-free, soaked-grain, vegetable-laden bread) 
(I know, the incredible beautiful antique plate -Mason- really distracts from the cake)
I feel much better for this. My main failing is at breakfast. I don’t want to start frying (eggs etc); I don’t like anything greasy (bacon and eggs for example) and quite like the heaviness that grains impart. My favourite breakfast is porridge, but I don’t like to eat it unless I have soaked the grains from the night before, and I frequently forget this. So a fruit-rich cake makes for a tasty first meal (after a pint of apple cider vinegar and honey in warm water. Sets you up for the day)
This cake is moist and delicious, and lasts for days and days. Excellent toasted, and also with a large slab of butter (although my official taste-testers felt it worked just fine without) (yes, I know. Sacrilege). It is grain, sugar and can be dairy-free (if you use coconut oil rather than butter). Needless to say, it tastes delicious, and, like the grain-, sugar-, nut- and dairy-free brownie, doesn’t taste in the slightest bit “healthy” (thank goodness)
I used raisins or sultanas (can’t remember which) and apricots. You can vary the quantities quite a bit, but I would keep the tea-fruit ratio within 50g: 300g fruit-300mls tea, 350g fruit – 300mls tea, 400g fruit – 350mls tea etc
Grain, Sugar and Dairy-free Fruit Brack
350g dried fruit (raisins or sultanas)
50g dried apricots, chopped into sultana-sized pieces
350mls tea
200g ground almonds
100g desiccated coconut
1\2 teaspoon bread soda
2 eggs
1 tablespoon of maple syrup
60g butter or coconut oil, melted
Pre-heat the oven to 170’C325F/Gas 3
The night (or several hours) before you plan on making this, soak the fruit in the tea.
The following day, mix the dry ingredients together.
Mix the melted butter into the soaked fruit mix (the fruit is now plump and juicy and not much liquid remains), next the maple syrup, then the eggs.
Add in the dry ingredients and mix well together.
You should have enough for 2 x 2lb loaf tins
Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes, until a skewer stuck into the middle of the cake comes out clean.
Leave for around a half hour to cool before taking out of the tin.
Enjoy 🙂
Yet another delicious treat to wrap my chops around. MUST add coconut oil/butter to my list.
Yes, butter DOES give me flavour I feel, but I know how you feel about it 😛
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For once in my life I happen to I have ALL of those ingredients in stock! I’m off to get the fruit soaking! Tea brack is a big fave here and as I’m trying to cut down on grains, sugar etc too, this will be a welcome treat! The brownies are on my list too. Healthy heaven!
Testing, testing.
Am I allowed to say this looks delish now????
Thank you!! Not sure what happened earlier… these would go down very well wirh your fellow knitters 🙂
Sadhbh, you won’t regret it 😀
I’ve been trying to reduce the foods with phytic acid in this house too, and failing miserably so I’m watching you now like a hawk. That looks and sounds amazing! definitely one to try out this weekend.