Tea Cake
Home-style, with every amount and step. Tick things off as you go.
- Time
- 65 min
- Makes
- 1 loaf (23 × 13 cm)

Ingredients
Missing something?
- No plain flour (maida)? Use atta, sifted (the result is denser).
- No eggs? Use paneer or firm tofu in curries and rice dishes.
- No butter? Use ghee or oil.
- No sugar? Use jaggery (gur) or honey, added gradually.
- No baking powder? Use a pinch of baking soda with a squeeze of lemon, or skip it (the result will be denser).
- No milk? Use milk powder mixed with water, or diluted tinned milk.
Method
- Heat the oven to 170°C. Grease a 23 × 13 cm loaf tin and line the bottom with paper.
- Beat the butter and sugar for 4–5 minutes until pale and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, then the vanilla.
- Sift in the maida, baking powder and salt and fold in gently with the milk until just mixed.
- Pour into the tin and bake for 45–50 minutes, until golden and a toothpick in the centre comes out clean.
- Cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack.