Fruit & Nut Loaf Cake - Tartine Recipe

This gluten free dried fruit and nut loaf is a simple tea cake recipe that is perfect on its own or with a little cheese, butter, jam – making for a delicious post meal treat.

Welcome to my Cookbook Recipe Series Episode 3, where I make some of my favorite recipes from cookbooks that I own. The last episode covered the Chocolate torte from Nigella Lawsons Cookbook. Today we have made the Fruit & Nut Loaf cake from Tartine’s cookbook. I had posted a poll on tiktok to help me decide between the brown butter lemon bars and this fruit and nut loaf – you guessed it, the fruit and nut loaf won. So here we are. I usually make this around the holidays but it freezes well so make it any time of the year and freeze the leftovers. These recipes that I am sharing are mainly the same as the book however I do have a few tweaks which I prefer when making them.

I have made this recipe over the last 2 years and I have made it over 5 times. However, after making it the first time I found few additions to the original recipe that make it even tastier (for my liking). This cake is a fantastic cake to bake and gift anyone as it travels well and you can wrap it in baking paper or cellophane sheets.

There are many simple fruit loaf recipes online today to get an idea on why the recipe is all about. They are not popular through out the year but they are a must bake dessert during the festive season of christmas or easter. Having said this you can check out my no fuss christmas fruit cake recipe here or marry berry fruit loaf recipe is also a winner. I have also made fruit loaf recipe by Jamie Oliver which his yummy. Having said this let us get to it. Now before we get into Tartine’s recipe let us understand a little about fruit loafs.

What is a fruit loaf?

A fruit loaf is made with an assortment of dried fruits that may or may not be rehydrated with a liquid. Folded into a simple cake batter that is baked low and slow until cooked all the way through, cooled and sliced, served with tea.

Bara brith vs fruit loaf?

Bara brith is a Welsh bread that is similar to a tea loaf Barmbrack. They contain dried fruits and sometimes nuts but also have yeast in the cake batter, it is a tea cake but also considered to be a sweet bread. Fruit loaf does have any yeast in it and is purely cake batter.

Is fruit loaf healthy?

With the addition of dried fruit a lot of people believe it is healthier t eat as the sugar comes from the fruit, however, the cake is not “healthy” as it does have refined sugar, flour, butter etc. this varies from recipe to recipe though. A slice of fruit loaf will not ruin your day but the whole loaf is a lot out consume and not the healthiest option.

What is Tartine’s Fruit & Nut Loaf Recipe?

According to the cookbook this cake is an adaptation from Alec Merdrich. The recipe is filled with sweet and tart fruits to create a bed that is perfect with butter or cheese says Elisabeth Prueitth & Chad Roberston. This recipe is a variation and is gluten free however the original recipe used whole wheat flour. The loaf is more fruit and nut than cake.

What ingredients do you need to make this Fruit & Nut Loaf Recipe?

We need an assortment of dried fruit such as dates, figs, apricots, golden and black raisins, dried cherries/blueberries/cranberries. The cake comes together with 3 eggs, brown sugar, vanilla, tapioca flour, oat flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt. As for the nuts we need pecans, cashews, almonds.

What substitutes can you use to make this Fruit & Nut Loaf Recipe?

Dried fruit –

We need two parts of fruit, the jammy kind (dates, figs, apricots) and the dry dry kind (blueberries, cherries, cranberries, raisins). You can use any dried fruit you like any combination. However we need the combination of the jammy and dry fruit to give you a well balanced loaf.

Nuts –

I have used almonds, cashews, pecans but I have made this cake with macadamia, walnuts, pistachios as well and they are yummy.

Brown sugar –

I have made this recipe with brown sugar but you can use dark brown sugar or else coconut sugar.

Spices –

The recipe calls for vanilla but I like adding a little cinnamon powder just gives this loaf a intensity in flavor and compliments the fruits.

Flour –

The recipe asks for tapioca flour and glute free oats to keep this cake gluten free but I have made it with whole wheat flour as suggested, almond flour, rye flour, all purpose gluten free flour and all purpose flour. It works well.

What equipment do you need to make this Fruit & Nut Loaf Recipe?

We need a large mixing bowl to make the loaf batter. I like too soak the dry dry fruits (raisins etc) in warm water in a bowl/glass jug. I also use a whisk too beat the eggs in a separate bowl. The cake is baked in a 9 inch loaf tin that is lined with baking paper. You can use a rubber spatula to mix the batter together or get your hands in there. The cake is baked in an oven.

How to make this Fruit & Nut Loaf Recipe?

Place the rack in the lowest position of the oven and preheat to 150°C. Line a 9in by 5in loaf pan with parchment paper. Soak the nectarines, plums, peaches or cherries or raisins or blueberries or cranberries in 1/2 cup warm water. In a large bowl, whisk together the flours, salt, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon powder, brown sugar to combine. Add the dates, apricots, figs, nuts, mix thoroughly with your fingers. drain the warm water from the dried fruit and add to the bowl, mxi to combine. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs and vanilla. Pour the egg mixture into the fruit and nut mixture, and thoroughly combine with your hands until the fruits and nuts are covered. Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan and place in the oven. Bake until deep brown in colour and a knife inserted into the centre of the loaf comes out crumb-free, one and a half hours. If the cake gets too dark, loosely cover it with foil. Cool completely on a wire rack. To serve, slice with a sharp, heavy knife.

Serving this Fruit & Nut Loaf Recipe?

This loaf needs to cool down before slicing or else it will fall apart. Slice it and serve with salted butter, marmalade, cheese or soft cheese as well. I love eating it with butter and sea salt on top. Serve it with tea or coffee and you have yourself a wholesome tea cake.

Storing this Fruit & Nut Loaf Recipe?

Slice this loaf and store the leftovers in an air tight container at room temperature for a couple oof days or in the fridge for a week. If you are storing it longer, transfer to the freezer for up to 3 months. I have stored this cake in the freezer for 6 months. Defrosted when ready to use and toast it over the pan before eating.

What have I done differently to make this Fruit & Nut Loaf?

The original recipe doesn’t require you to soak the dried fruit but I like soaking the raisins, cranberries, blueberries in warm water before starting on the cake batter.i drain out the water and add it into the batter as suggested.
You can beat the sugar with the eggs to give a nice crust on top of the loaf but I like mixing the sugar with the flour and the fruit.
I baked my loaf for 1 1/2 hour in a convection oven I wouldn’t suggest baking it longer, allowing it to cool in the loaf tin helps finish cooking the cake.
I have added cinnamon into this cake which I think adds a delicious flavor to the fruits and nuts.

Looking for more cookbook recipes?

Chocolate torte
Magic espresso brownies

Now that we have covered how to make this Fruit & Nut Loaf Cake Recipe, you can have a look at the recipe video on my socials but let’s get to it. Don’t forget to follow along for more healthy recipe inspiration.

If you try this recipe out, don’t forget to share it with me on instagram so I can see how it turned out. I’d love nothing more than to chat with you on your cooking/baking.