Malt loaf with homemade butter

Method

1. Put the raisins and sultanas in a large mixing bowl with 1 tbsp of the malt extract, then pour over the hot tea. Leave to stand, covered, for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.
2. Heat the oven to 150°C/fan130°C/ gas 2. Grease and line a 1 litre loaf tin with baking paper. Add the remaining 4 tbsp malt extract, the treacle and sugar to the soaked fruit. Beat the eggs into the mixture, then stir in the flours, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin, then bake on the middle shelf for 1 hour 20-30 minutes. The malt loaf should be firm and well risen, and a skewer pushed into the centre should come out a little sticky but not wet. Leave to cool completely in the tin (see Make Ahead).
3. To make the butter, pour the cream into a sterilised mixing bowl (see Know-how). Beat with an electric hand mixer on a medium speed until the cream becomes stiff, then continue to whip until the cream collapses and separates into butterfat and buttermilk. Line a sieve with clean muslin or a new J-cloth and set over a bowl. Pour in the cream mixture and allow the buttermilk to drain into the bowl (you can use this for making bread or other cakes). Put the butter from the sieve into another sterilised bowl, then beat briefly to extract even more buttermilk. Drain again.
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4. Fill a bowl with very cold or iced water. Add the butter and knead it with your hands. If there’s still any buttermilk left, it will come out in the water. Change the water 2 or 3 times (see tips). The butter is ready when the water stays clean.
5. With cold hands (have a cold tap running or a bowl of iced water to hand), lift the butter onto a board and pat into two even-size blocks (see tips). This shaping will help release some moisture. You can then use pre-soaked butter paddles to press the blocks and make them more evenly shaped, if you like (see Know-how). Wrap the butter in baking paper or waxed paper, then chill until needed (see Make Ahead).
6. Serve the malt loaf in slices spread with some jersey cream butter.