Recipes - Desserts
Avocado & Lime Loaf

Ingredients

85g unsalted butter, at room temperature

200g caster sugar

Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lime

1 very ripe Hass avocado, halved, pitted peeled and mashed

2 large eggs, at room temperature

1 tsp vanilla extract

200g plain flour

Pinch salt

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

Serves 8-10
Preparation: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 55-60 minutes

Icing
  1. ½ very ripe Hass avocado, pitted, peeled and mashed
  2. Zest of 1 lime
  3. Juice of ½ lime
  4. 35g unsalted butter
  5. 100g icing sugar, sifted
Method
  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan oven160°C/gas 4. Grease and line the base of a 900g (2lb) loaf tin with greaseproof paper.
  2. Using an electric whisk beat together the butter and sugar until light and creamy.
  3. Add the lime zest and juice to the mashed avocado, then beat this into the butter mixture. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well between each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
  4. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Use a large metal spoon to fold half into the avocado mixture. Stir in the buttermilk, then fold in the remaining flour mixture.
  5. Transfer the cake mixture to the prepared tin and smooth over the top.
  6. Bake for 55 minutes - 1hr until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. If the loaf is browning too quickly, cover lightly with a piece of foil.
  7. Remove from the oven then leave to cool for 15 minutes. Remove from the tin, peel away the paper and leave on a wire rack to cool completely before icing.
  8. To make the icing, mix the avocado with half the lime zest and the juice.
  9. Cream the butter using an electric whisk, then beat in the avocado mixture. Slowly add the icing sugar, whisking well to combine. Spread thickly over the top of the cooled cake and sprinkle with the remaining lime zest.

Cook’s tip:The loaf will keep in an airtight container for three days.