Spiced Apple Cake

A deliciously moist cake with chunks of apple, warming cinnamon and mixed spice, finished with a light dusting of icing sugar.

Ingredients

• 200g self-raising flour

• 150g caster sugar

• 150g softened butter

• 3 medium eggs

• 2 eating apples, peeled, cored and chopped

• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

• ½ tsp mixed spice

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 2 tbsp milk

• ½ tsp baking powder

• A little demerara sugar for topping (optional)

• Icing sugar for dusting

Method

1. Prepare the oven: Preheat to 180°C (160°C fan) / Gas Mark 4. Grease and line a 20cm round cake tin.

2. Mix the cake batter: Cream together the butter and caster sugar until light and fluffy.

3. Add the eggs: Beat in the eggs one at a time, adding a spoonful of flour if the mixture starts to curdle.

4. Add the dry ingredients: Fold in the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and mixed spice.

5. Add the apple: Stir through the chopped apples, vanilla extract and milk until everything is combined.

6. Bake: Spoon into the prepared tin and level the top. Sprinkle with a little demerara sugar if you like. Bake for 45–55 minutes, until golden and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.

7. Cool and serve: Leave in the tin for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Dust with icing sugar once cool.

• For extra crunch: Add 50g chopped walnuts or pecans.

• For extra spice: Add a little freshly grated nutmeg or ground ginger.

• For a pudding: Serve warm with custard, cream or vanilla ice cream.

• For a little sweetness: Drizzle with caramel sauce.

A seasonal tip: Use Bramley apples for a slightly sharper, softer texture, or eating apples for sweeter chunks that hold their shape.

Enjoy! 🍎