🍒 Classic Moist Fruit & Nut Loaf

Ingredients
2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
½ cup (115 g) butter, softened
¾ cup (150 g) brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ cup (120 ml) milk
1 cup raisins
½ cup dried cranberries or chopped cherries
½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
¼ cup chopped candied cherries or mixed dried fruit
Instructions
Heat oven to 175°C (350°F). Grease and line a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Beat butter and brown sugar until light and creamy.
Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add vanilla.
Add the dry ingredients alternately with the milk. Mix just until combined.
Fold in the raisins, cranberries/cherries and nuts.
Pour into the loaf pan and smooth the top.
Bake for 50–65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
Cool in the pan for 10–15 minutes, then transfer to a rack and cool completely.
✨ For an extra-moist loaf
Soak the dried fruit in ½ cup warm orange juice or milk for 20–30 minutes before adding it to the batter. This gives the cake that rich, soft texture shown in the photo.