Fruit And Nut Loaf - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, chopped, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 None large eggs
2 1/4 cups self-rising flour, sifted
1/2 cup milk
2 cups pecan halves, 1 cup chopped
1/2 cup raisins
None None FOR THE CARAMEL ICING
1/2 cup brown sugar
4 1/2 tbsp butter, chopped
1 tbsp heavy cream
1 3/4 cups powdered sugar, sifted

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350\u00b0F. Lightly grease an 8x4 inch loaf pan and line base with parchment paper.
Beat butter, sugar and vanilla together until pale and creamy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down sides of bowl. Fold in flour alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour. Fold in chopped nuts and raisins. Transfer to prepared pan and sprinkle with remaining pecan halves. Bake for 50-55 mins, until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 5 mins then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Meanwhile, to make the caramel icing, combine sugar and butter in a small saucepan. Stir over low heat until sugar dissolves. Blend in heavy cream, stirring, for 2 mins. Whisk in powdered sugar until smooth, adding a few drops of hot water if needed. Let cool slightly then drizzle over cooled cake.