Wednesday, 4 June 2014

apple and bourbon cake

I just had to share this melt in the mouth cake recipe. As it is still cold enough for comfort food, I jumped at the chance of making this cake. My lovely Instagram friend Katerina, whose food shots make my mouth water, shared a picture of this cake she had made. She very kindly gave me the recipe to try and let me tell you, it's one of the best cakes I have ever made! Check out her lovely gallery here.

The bourbon works so well with the apples, pecans and spices. It is super moist, packed with fruit and has dark, spicy flavours.

Ingredients
225g/2 sticks unsalted butter,softened
220g/1 cup caster sugar
220g/1 cup dark brown soft sugar
3 eggs
280g/2 cups plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of baking soda
1 tsp ground allspice
1 1/2 tsps ground cinnamon
1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cardamon
1/2 tsp salt
3 tablespoons Bourbon
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and cut into chunks
120g/1 cup shelled whole pecans, toasted and roughly chopped

Deep, 20 cm/8 inch round cake pan,greased and baselined with parchment paper.
Serves 5-12

Method
  1. Preheat the oven to 160C/315F Gas 4.
  2. Using an electric mixer with paddle or beater attachment (or an electric whisk, which I used), beat the butter and both sugars until the mixture is almost light in colour and fluffy in texture.
  3. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until thoroughly combined before adding the next. Scrape down the side of the bowl and mix again for one minute.
  4. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, bicarb, all the spices and salt and sift twice.
  5. Add one third of the flour mixture to the egg mixture and mix until well incorporated. Repeat with another third of the flour mixture, then the rest of the flour mixture, and mix until just combined.
  6. Pour the Bourbon over the apples in a bowl and mix. Fold the apples and pecans into the cake mixture.
  7. Spoon the mixture into the prepared cake tin. 
  8. Bake in the preheated oven for 55-70 minutes. A wooden skewer inserted in the middle should come out with almost no crumbs attached, and the middle of the cake, when pressed, should spring back slightly instead of sink. Bake for an additional 5-10 minutes if necessary.
  9. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Slide a table knife all around the edge to loosen the cake, then remove from the pan. Transfer to a wire rack to cool for one hour.
Perfect with a cup of coffee, afternoon tea or as part of a picnic. This cake won't disappoint and definitely ticks all the right boxes! Well, it didn't last a full day here!

Enjoy!




10 comments:

  1. ooooo naughty but nice :) looks delicious xx

    Reply
    Replies
    1. So naughty lol but such great comfort food! xx

  2. Replies
    1. It's so delicious Andrea xx

  3. Being a BIG whiskey drinker, I may have to try this out for myself! Thanks for sharing x

    Reply
    Replies
    1. If you love whisky Rachael, you are going to love this cake! xx

  4. This is one I will HAVE to try! Thanks for sharing it x

    Reply
    Replies
    1. You will love it Gailann. It is so moreish and it's so hard to just have one piece! :-)

  5. This looks so delicious Rachel, love these posts. :)
    http://claudiapersi.blogspot.ca/

    Reply
    Replies
    1. Awww thank you so much Claudia :-) xx