Chocolate & Lime Drizzle Loaf Cake

The other week I decided I needed a chocolate and lime cake in my life. I spent quite a long time looking for the ideal recipe and didn't really come up with it so I winged it a bit and combined a couple of different recipes and this was the end result.

I was inspired by those little chocolate limes I used to get in Woolworths. I'm sure they're still out there somewhere but I never seem to happen across them. There are one of my absolute favourite sweets and I just wanted to taste this combo in cake form.

I'm pleased to say it was a resounding success. Beautifully moist with a nice hint of lime but nothing too over-powering. It also smelled divine. I was very proud of my loaf cake it has to be said and I loved the drizzle on top although I may have overdone it a tad.

I'm a real fan of loaf cakes, just the ease of making them and then the ease of eating them! They make a great cake to have a slice of with a cup of tea.

Chocolate and Lime Drizzle Loaf Cake

Ingredients

175g softened butter, with extra for greasing

175g golden caster sugar

3 eggs

140g self-raising flour

85g ground almonds

1/2 tsp baking powder

100ml milk

4 tbsp good-quality coca powder

zest of 2 limes

for the drizzle;

125g sugar

juice of 2 limes

Method

Heat the oven to 160c/gas mark 4 and line a 2lb loaf tin with baking parchment.

Either by hand or in a stand mixer, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy before adding in the eggs, flour, almonds, baking powder, milk, cocoa powder and lime zest and beating well until smooth.

Pop the batter into the lined loaf tin and bake in the oven for 45-50 minutes until risen. Check it is cooked through by poking a skewer in the centre of the cake - if it's ready the skewer will come out clean. If it's not quite ready, give it a few more minutes and check again.

Whilst the cake is cooling slightly prepare the drizzle by mixing together the sugar and lime juice in a bowl.

Prick some holes in the loaf cake with a skewer or fork then pour the drizzle over the top of the cake. Leave in the tin until completely cool, then remove and serve.

Tip. Lining a loaf tin can be tricky - I always use ready made lines that I buy from Lakeland. Makes life WAY easier, believe me!