Gin & Tonic Loaf Cake

 

Ingredients

• 250g unsalted butter
• 250g caster sugar
• 250g self-raising flour
• 5 eggs
• zest of 1 lime
• For the G&T drizzle:
• 75g caster sugar
• 5 tbsp gin
• 5 tbsp tonic water
• For the decoration:
• 200g icing sugar
• 3 - 4 tbsp gin
• lime slices
• zest of 1 lime

Essential kit: You will need: a 900g loaf tin.

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan and grease and line a 900g loaf tin.
2. Beat the butter and caster sugar together in a bowl until light and fluffy. Add the self-raising flour, eggs and lime zest to the bowl, and mix again until combined. Pour the mixture into the tin and for 45–50 minutes, or until baked through. Leave the cake to cool in the tin while you make the drizzle.
3. Add the caster sugar, gin and tonic water to a small pan and place over a low-medium heat. Stir gently until the sugar has dissolved and then turn off the heat.
4. Carefully poke holes into the top of the cake with a cake skewer or fork, then pour the drizzle over the cake. Leave the cake in the tin to cool fully.
5. Remove the cooled cake from the tin. Put the icing sugar into a bowl and gradually mix in the gin until you reach a thick and pourable consistency. Pour the icing over the cake, then finish with some lime slices and a sprinkling of lime zest.
6. Customise: Any flavour gin can be used! The tonic water can be swapped for lemonade, ginger ale or more gin.
7. The lime is optional, or can be swapped for the zest of 1 orange or 1 lemon!

Source: Jane’s Patisserie: 100 deliciously customisable cakes, bakes, and treats by Jane Dunn