Sweet Treat

Last Thursday, my neighbour Jim called round to say his apples were ripe for picking, a little earlier this year than last. I picked some, and have promised to make him some pies for his freezer, but I used three small ones to make Rachel Allen's Apple Cake. 
I have done this recipe before, it is very easy and makes a lovely moist sponge with a sugary golden top.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 eggs
• 175 g caster sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 85 g butter
• 75 ml milk
• 125 g plain flour
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• 2¼ tsp baking powder
• 2 cooking apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
• cream, to serve

METHOD

1. Preheat the oven to 200ºC/gas 6. Line the sides and base of a 20 x 20cm square cake tin with parchment paper.
2. Using an electric whisk, whisk the eggs, caster sugar and vanilla extract in a large bowl until the mixture is thick and mousse-like and the whisk leaves a figure of eight pattern (this will take about 5 minutes).
3. Melt the butter in a saucepan with the milk, then pour onto the eggs, whisking all the time. Sift in the flour, cinnamon and baking powder and fold carefully into the batter so that there are no lumps of flour. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and smooth the surface. 

4. Arrange the apple slices over the batter. (They will sink to the bottom.) Sprinkle over a tablespoon of sugar and bake in the oven for ten minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 180ºC/gas 4 and bake for a further 20-25 minutes or until well risen and golden brown.
5. Remove the cake from the oven and allow to cool for 20 minutes in the tin. Cut into squares and serve warm with cream

It does not last long in our house! Served with cream, with yogurt, and by itself