Malted Fruit and Honey Loaf

Preheat the oven to 180 Fan/ Gas 5.

Grease a 400g loaf tin and line with baking paper.

Place the malt, honey and milk in a saucepan and warm gently over a low heat until blended. (Too much heat will curdle the milk, if this happens, don't worry, keep going, the end result is just as good)

Mix the flour and the dates together in a large mixing bowl and add the slightly cooled malt mixture. Stir well, beating out any lumps of flour.

Add the egg to the mixture, stirring well.

Dissolve the bicarbonate of soda in about a dessert spoon of water and add to the mixture.

Pour the batter into the lined loaf tin and bake in the oven for 40 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the loaf comes out clean.

Cool in the tin and then turn out onto a wire rack.

Slice and spread with butter.