Regional Recipes: Felton Spice Loaf

Felton spice loaf is a traditional recipe from the North East of England.  This spiced fruit cake is a delicious tea time treat.

There is nothing nicer than a cup of tea with a slice of cake around four in the afternoon. It is a time when energy levels start to sag. A snack and a cup of tea act as a pick me up helping to keep you going until dinner time. The English tradition of afternoon tea is something that we should all celebrate.

Felton spice loaf is a traditional Northumberland high-tea loaf. It is a lightly spiced fruit cake bursting with the citrus flavour of candied peel and the moist richness of raisins. The cake is easy to make. Most fruit cakes take a few hours in the oven, this one is ready in forty minutes. The hard part is waiting for it to cool so you can eat it.

Read more: Traditional Recipes from North East England

Felton Splice loaf

Felton spice loaf is a traditional recipe from the village of Felton in Northumberland. The recipe was first put into print in Peggy Hutchinson’s North Country Cooking Secrets in 1935. Like many traditional recipes it has probably been around much longer. It is the type of recipe you will find written on a envelope and hidden in your grannies cookery book.

Felton spice loaf is a bread cake which contains egg, ground almonds, sultanas and shredded peel. Self raising flour is the raising agent. It can be eaten on its own or with a smear of butter.

Where is Felton?

I have been to many places in Northumberland but never to Felton. Having read a little bit about it I may have to rectify this and visit soon. Felton is in central Northumberland, close to the coast and not far north of Morpeth. It is easy to reach from the A1 as you head towards Alwick and Bambrough.

The village is small, less than 1000 people live there but by all accounts it is charming. The river Coquet runs though the village surrounded by stone cottages. There are two bridges in the village, the older one dates from the 15th Century. On the main street you will find a plaque commemorating the stay of Oliver Cromwell whilst on his way to Battle of Dunbar. The church of St Michael and All Angels is a Grade I listed building from Medieval times.

Whilst the village is small there is plenty to do and see. North East Family Fun has put together a great guide on things to do in Felton if you visit with kids.

If you want something to eat then you can visit the Running Fox Bakery. This offers afternoon tea which is said to be the “best afternoon tea in England”. I am going to have to add them to my afternoon tea in the north east bucket list and pay a visit to find out if this is true.  For a more substantial meal you can visit the  Northumberland Arms, a pub and restaurant.

How to make Felton Spice Loaf

This fruit cake is really easy to make. Start by creaming together the sugar and butter and then gently whisk in the eggs.  Fold some ground almonds into the mix and then sift in the flour and mixed spice. Finally add some mixed peel and sultanas. The cake mixture at this point will be a little stiff so add some milk until it takes on a dropping consistency.

Grease a loaf tin or line it with baking parchment and spoon the cake mixture into it. Flatten down the mixture then bake in the oven for around thirty to forty minutes. You know it is ready when a skewer placed into the cake comes out clean.

Leave the cake to cool in the tin for around ten minutes before you turn it out of the tin. At this point you can place it onto a wire rack until it is cool. Serve with some tea and enjoy.

Read more: Boiled fruit cake recipe

Felton spice loaf recipe

Why not pin the recipe for later?

Have you ever had Felton spice loaf? Do you know any other traditional recipes from North East England? Let me know below.