Lincolnshire Plum Bread
Actually my Mums Lincolnshire Plum loaf cake is sometimes referred to as bread, not sure it is to be honest!
However that’s what we’ve always called it and we’ve been eating it for years!
Plum Bread or Plum Loaf
So Lincolnshire plum bread or loaf cake – it doesn’t really matter!
You can use tea in the recipe however we have always just used water, so whatever you fancy. This one’s more cake than bread!
It’s so quick and easy to make and it’s such a great loaf cake to wrap in foil and keep in the cupboard. Mum always has one in her kitchen, ready for us lot!
How to serve your Lincolnshire Plum Bread / cake
In the north we butter it and serve it with cheese.
I know it sound strange BUT it is delicious! It’s not an overly sweet cake so it works so well.
It’s almost like malt loaf really – we have that with cheese too.
It’s the perfect teatime treat.
Really rather good if you like fruit cake but don’t want all the marzipan and icing shenanigans.
It’s an everyday version of a complex fruit cake, but easier and lighter, delicious!
To Make your plum bread…
This cake mix is made in a pan on the hob!!
Yes it is then popped into Loaf tins then baked in the oven.
This mix makes two 2 llb loaf cakes, so if you only want one (why?) then half the mix.
We prefer the smaller cakes (and you get 2!!)
Loaf Liners?
Also before I forget, have you discovered loaf liners yet?
Oh they are fantastic, you can say ‘bye’ to trying to line a loaf tin!
I love them, so easy and you can find them in most supermarkets and they are not expensive either
So why not have a go at my Mums Lincolnshire Plum loaf / cake – and try it with cheese.
I’d love to know what you think. Please leave me a comment, I love your comments
Other Loaf Cakes
If you love loaf cake then I have loads however a VERY popular one is Freda’s Apple & Fruit Loaf why not have a look.
It’s such an easy recipes and you can use up all of those fallen apples in the Autumn
Big love Cx
Go have a gander Cx
Lincolnshire Plum Bread
Ingredients
- 225 g Margarine or butter
- 340 g Caster Sugar
- 450 g Dried Fruit mixed or what ever you fancy
- 1 cup Water or Tea
- 450 g Self-Raising Flour
- 2 medium sized Eggs
Instructions
- Grease & Line 2 x 21b loaf tins (I use loaf liners - they are ace!)
- Preheat the oven 140C/275F/Gas 1
- In a large pan warm the Butter, Caster Sugar, Dried Fruit and tea - melt
- Tip the Self-raising flour into a large bowl, with the eggs and mix Add the melted mixture to the flour mix, a little at a time and stir until totally combined
- Bake for approx 60 minutes. Insert a fine knitting needle and if it comes out clean you're done. If not bake for an additional 10 minutes until baked
- Leave to cool - then add that butter and cheese and away you go!
- Enjoy the delights of my Mums Lincolnshire Plum loaf / cake
Barbara
I will try this thismorning and take one to my not very well sister.x
Clare x
Oh I’d love to know what you think – I hope your sister gets better soon Cx
Jenny Walters
What a great fruit cake. I blink in love them and I am so going to have to start having cheese with a slice. Sounds like a genius idea. This cake is perfect for me too as I don’t like any marzipan shenanigans either! Thanks lots for sharing with #BakingCrumbs
Clare x
It’s lovely Jenny – trust me I’ve eaten a whole one in less than a week – gawd Cx
Jo Allison / Jo's Kitchen Larder
Your mum’s fruit cake and a thick slice of cheese sound like trouble (but in a really good way lol). I don’t think I would be able to stop after one slice! I do love combination of cheese with sweet and fruity bakes, they just go so well together! Thank you for sharing this delicious creation with #BakingCrumbs 🙂 x
Rebecca Smith - Glutarama
This is my kinda cake, reminds me of the bara brith I make with tea…I’ll always choose a fruit loaf/bread/cake/thingymabob over chocolate cake any day! Reckon this will work well gluten free too.
SK
I really fond of baking and love to try out recipes . Such lovely yummy looking recipes on your site and I’m tempted to try them out . But self raising flour is not available where I live so what changes do I need do to make to the recipe if using plain flour ?
Clare x
Hi
Just add 2 teaspoons of baking powder for each 150g/6oz/1 cup plain flour. Sift the flour and baking powder together into a bowl before using, to make sure the baking powder is thoroughly distributed (or you can put both ingredients into a bowl and whisk them together).
Hope this helps
Thanks Clare
Ellis
This is the best plim bread recipe! So tasty and comforting. Reminds,me of being younger. Delish. Thank you.
Clare x
So lovely to hear – Thank you
Sandra
My plum bread didn’t rise very much what did I do wrong or is there anything I can do to make them rinse a little more
Claire
Hi, Gas mark 1 is that right please?
Clare x
Yes Claire thats right x
Sue Gilbert
Made two of these last week and everybody was v v impressed. Making another two today! 😁
Sue Gilbert
Made two of these last week and everybody was v v impressed. Making another two today!
Clare x
great to hear Sue xx thank you
Sarah
Brilliant!! Easy recipe and tasted marvellous i will definitely make again. Thank you
Anonymous
Going to try this at the weekend can’t find a decent recipe that hubby likes and plum loaf is his favourite
Helen
Made this the other week, the whole family loved it, making another 2 loaves tomorrow. Five star recipe, thank you.
Anonymous
Hi, for your plum bread what shelf position do you use for electric oven, it’s not a fan one.x
Clare x
Centre of the oven – Thanks Clare
Debbie Bartlett
Easy recipe ! Gorgeous plum loaf … I can’t stop making them for friends and family x fab
Clare x
Super to hear xx thank you
Sally O'Kane
I made this for my elderly dad who is Lincolnshire born and bred and he loved it. He said it was a “proper” version and just like the ones his mum and aunts used to make. High praise indeed from him! Thank you!
Clare x
Oh That’s so lovely to hear xx thank you
Loraine May
I’m a Lincoln lady now residing in Cheshire and people laugh when I tell them to eat the ‘bread’ with cheese! My mum used to put a tablespoon of marmalade into the mixture too.
Clare x
I love cheese with it xx great tip ref the marmalade – Thanks Cx
Cathy
Hi Claire, your plum bread looks delicious, but with cheese?? I’m an East Midlands girl & i’ve never heard of doing that. Then I read you put cheese on malt loaf!! At first I thought eugh which turned into ooh i’ll have to bake the plum bread and try it with cheese!! Maybe i’ve been missing out! Then there was another clanger… tea in the recipe! That stirred all sorts of questions…with milk? How much milk? Etc..
Clare x
Hi Cathy
Yes it’s all true! Try it – you don’t know what you’re missing!! Let me know what you think
Cx
Cathy not Kathy 😊
*Clare not Claire, sorry.
diane meakin
I have made two trips into Linconshire from Derbyshire to buy the plum bread to no avail due to shops closing early .I shall make so thank you for putting the recipe online, I shall make it pronto
Janet Desforges
Hi, I love Lincolnshire plum bread too, my mum was a great cook. Lincolnshire born and bred. my question is, how do I store it? I want to make some for Christmas and give with a chunk of cheese.
Thank you. I’m in Northumberland now but nr. Caistor was my home.
Clare x
Hi Janet
I just wrap it in greaseproof paper then foil and leave it in the cupboard – I also think it will be fine to make them soon if they are for Christmas
That’s a lovely idea to give as a Christmas present Cx
margaret priestley
so please to have found your recipe on line . My mother-in-law used to make this and my Daughter has ask me to make her one for christmas, but I could not remember all the ingredients only the cold tea
Clare x
So glad you found it xx
Sue
I’ve made this but mine is very crumblie where did I go wrong it’s delious but can’t put butter on it
Clare x
Sorry to hear that Sue. I really don’t know – maybe oven temp? x
Diane Hersey
How do you store the plum loaf and how long can you make before eating
Clare x
Hi Diane – I wrap mine in baking paper and then foil – at least a month if not longer – issue is it doesn’t last long in my house. My mum makes them instead of Christmas Cakes and has already made hers – Thanks Clare
Anonymous
Great plum bread recipe. I usually use my mother’s old recipe. I got to say your recipe is very good.
Tweeked it a bit added table spoon of black treacle, 1 tsp mixed spice and 1tsp Cinnamon.
Turned out very good. Thanks again.
Ken
Lorraine mitchell
Well I’m no baker, but have given your mum’s receipt a go. It has helped keeping me entertained in lockdown. Just left to cool so have not turned them out yet but wow they are looking good and smell so delicious. Have a friend who is isolating so hoping to pass one onto her. Thank you for sharing.
Julie Jones
Made 4 yesterday, how long will they keep for?
Clare x
Oh wrapped well a couple of months x
Pauline McCarney
beautiful, best we had in ages ,did take longer cooking
Anne-marie
Looks lovely I’m gonna try it! Do you let the mix cool before putting it with the flour and eggs? Sorry if a daft question !
Clare x
Not a daft question hun – no no need to let it cool x
Phil Lloyd
So easy to make, and absolutely gorgeous! You must try this recipe!
Clare x
Oh thank you x
Nici Richter
Forgive me if I am missing something here. It is called a Plum cake but there are no plums in the list of ingredients?
Clare x
Hi Nici – yes you are correct
The term ‘plum bread’ is traditional and simple refers to the dried fruit
Thanks Clare
Stuart
What a super recipe. Thank you for sharing. As I remember, Nanna always made it on the stove, like you do, so I don’t really recognise the yeast-based recipes some people suggest. This is a lovely cake. It isn’t like my memory of Nanna’s plum bread, but every family has its own recipe and this is very nice. Nanna’s was firmer and had some spices in, too. Thanks again.
Clare x
Oh so lovely to hear – I love it when recipes bring back memories x
So
This was amazing!! Thankyou for the recipe I found mine was so crumbley when I cut it it fell apart where would I have gone wrong please!
?
Kathleen Pearson
Made 10 of these loaves now and everyone thinks they are delicious! Thank you
Clare x
Great to hear – thank you
Duncan Wilson
Unfortunately my efforts came out crumbly (but still tasted great). I think it was because I used the American measure of 1 cup (250ml) instead of the British 1 cup (284ml). I will try using the larger measure next time.
Clare x
Oh would be so interested to hear – Thank you
stephen
Easy enough to make and tastes nice but as a Gas fitter not a cook I have to admit that I must have done something wrong. Can’t slice it, it just breaks up. 🙁
Clare x
Oh No – I wonder what happened? I’ll test bake it again next weekend and see if I can see why?
Thanks
Barbara
Delicious. Really easy and as good as the plum loaf I bought in Lincoln.
Clare x
Oh thanks x appreciate the note x
Ian Fellows
Hi,
I have been looking for a recipe like this one, for Lincolnshire Plum Bread, like my mother used to bake and she had been given the recipe by my grandmother on my father’s side. He was born in Great Grimsby.
Dawn
How big is a cup please? How many mls? Thank you
Clare x
Just a normal cup you’d have a cup of tea in x
L
I find that at 140c mine took nearer 2 hours or more to cook
Clare x
Oh I’m sorry to hear that – I say around 70 minutes. Ovens are all different
I’ll recheck the recipe again – Thanks Clare