As well as being a great source of vitamins, apples give extra flavour and add moisture to a cake making them ideal for baking or for creating a delicious dessert.
One of the top ten fruits most packed with health-giving vitamins, the BBC Health News reported a few years ago that “apples contain high levels of the antioxidant flavonoid, quercetin” and suggested that an apple a day may be good for lung function. This seems to be backed up by continuing studies. Along with all the other claims for the health benefits of apples, it gives truth to the old wives saying that ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’.
The following two easy apple cake recipes are versatile enough to be enjoyed for afternoon tea, or as a dessert served warm with custard.
Easy Apple Cake
Ingredients (base cake)
- 175g (6oz) self-raising flour
- 1 level teaspoon baking powder
- 1 level teaspoon ground ginger
- 75g (3oz) caster sugar
- 1 egg
- 6 tablespoons milk
- 25g (1oz) butter, melted
Topping
- 450g (¾ - 1lb) cooking apples
- 75g (3oz) caster sugar
- 1 level teaspoon cinnamon
- 25g (1oz) butter
Method (cake)
- Heat oven to 200C (400F).
- Sift the flour, baking powder and ginger into a bowl.
- Stir in the sugar, egg and milk and mix well.
- Spread the mixture evenly into a 11x7x1 inch tin.
- Brush the melted butter over the surface.
Topping
- Peel, core and quarter the apples and thinly slice.
- Arrange the apple slices in neat rows on top.
- Sprinkle with the sugar and cinnamon. Dot with butter.
- Bake the cake in the centre of the oven for 30 to 35 minutes, until risen and the apples are cooked.
- When baked, run a knife round the sides of the tin to loosen.
- Leave in the tin to cool then cut into portions.
Apple and Sultana Cake
Ingredients
- 450g (1lb) small cooking apples
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 225g (8oz) self-raising flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 225g (8oz) caster sugar
- 225g (8o) soft margarine
- 4 eggs
- 50g (2oz) sultanas
- 3 tablespoons clear honey
Method
- Heat oven to 180C (350F).
- Grease a 23cm (9in) loose-bottomed, round tin and line the base with greaseproof paper.
- Peel, core and quarter the apples, cut into 1cm (1/2in) slices. Put into cold water with the lemon juice to prevent them turning brown.
- Put the flour, baking powder, sugar, margarine and eggs into a bowl or food processor and beat well together.
- Stir in the sultanas.
- Spread the mixture into the prepared tin and smooth.
- Drain the apples, pat dry with kitchen paper and arrange in circles on top of the cake.
- Bake for 55 to 60 minutes. Check it is ready by pushing a skewer into the centre of the baked cake. It should come out clean.
- Remove the cake from the tin and place on a wire rack.
- Brush the apples with the honey while they are still warm.
There are also easy banana cake recipes or easy chocolate bakes for a delicious change.
The copyright of the article Easy Apple Cake Recipes in Baking/Decorating Cakes is owned by Rosemary Gemmell. Permission to republish Easy Apple Cake Recipes in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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