14 April 2010

Apple Cinnamon Tea Cake

Dad: "Bake me a cake for afternoon tea!"


This is what happens when people start realising that you can bake half-decent cakes. You get requests for healthy birthday cakes and spontaneous afternoon teas.


My dad requested I make him a cake for afternoon tea one day after my parents had come back from shopping and were unsuccessful at purchasing any afternoon tea-worthy from the shops. I happily obliged - any excuse to get out of doing uni work to bake! I noticed that we had a lot of apples in our fruitbowl so I decided to make an apple cinnamon tea cake.


This cake has a slight spicyness from the cinnamon and an almost crunchy crust. But the inside of the cake is lovely and moist with surprise slices of caramelised apple hidden away at the bottom of the cake.


I cut myself a warming and comforting slice when it was still fresh out of the oven and it was perfect for the chilly weather we've been having in Sydney recently. Serve thick slices of warm cake with a cup of tea, and you have one content Dad :)


Apple Cinnamon Tea Cake
adapted from Australian Gourmet Traveller magazine

4 apples
30 g unsalted butter, softened
330 g (1½ cups) caster sugar
5 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
300 g (2 cups) self-raising flour
1 tsp sea salt
2 tsp cinnamon

1. Peel, core and quarter apples, then thinly slice lengthways. Heat a small amount of butter in a large frying pan over medium-high heat, add apples, sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar and sauté for 8 minutes or until golden brown and caramelised. Cool to room temperature.

2. Preheat oven to 180ºC. Using an electric mixer, beat butter until pale, add sugar and beat until well combined and doubled in volume. Add eggs one at a time, whisking to incorporate before adding the next. Add vanilla and whisk to combine.

3. Sift flour, sea salt and cinnamon over batter and gently fold until combined. Spoon half the mixture into a lined 26cm diameter cake pan. Spread apples evenly over batter and top with remaining batter.

4. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until an inserted skewer draws clean. Stand for 10 minutes then transfer cake to a wire rack to cool.


14 comments:

  1. Hahah, when my parents were visiting me I was taking every opportunity to bake cakes and goodies for them! I love apple and cinnamon; such a classic combination!

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  2. Mmm, apple and cinnamon is pretty much my all-time favourite combination. Your cake looks simple, but sooo lovely. Thanks for sharing. =)

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  3. It must be autumn! I made an apple and cinnamon cake over Easter. Delicious!

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  4. I like the apple layer in the centre! It's a nice surprise, much like jam filling in a donut or an unexpected filling in a cupcake! :D

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  5. HAHA "Bake me a cake.." That is odd to hear from an asian parent. I love the apple and cinnamon combo. Wonderful cake Jacqueline!

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  6. Looks so moist and scrum-diddly-umptious :) Baked apples are a win for me

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  7. I consider apple desserts as comfort foods. This cake looks really nice and simple. yum.

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  8. So nice of you to bake a cake for your Dad. I bet be must be loving your passion for cooking :)

    Tea cake looks really lovely. Bet it's go so nicely with a little dollop of cream or custard.

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  9. Haha, and nothing like loved ones supporting your hobbies and habits! So right for autumn and so right, as you said, with a cup of tea =)

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  10. Great looking cake. It looks really light and since there is apple it must be healthy.

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  11. Mmmm love apple and cinnamon combo

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  12. Hi Maria - How sweet of you to bake things for your parents! My parents don't ask me to bake things often but they do frequently partake in eating my baked goods anyway ;)

    Hi Anonymous - Thanks for the compliments and for the comment :)

    Hi Richard - Ooh I'm sure that would've tasted great too! Apple and cinnamon is a very 'autumny' combo isn't it?

    Hi Lorraine - Hehe I do like surprises in my food (as long as they're good surprises!)

    Hi Phuoc'n Delicious - Haha yeah I thought it was very random of my dad to be asking me to bake him something! Thanks :)

    Hi tangerine eats - Thank you! I love cooked apples too... whether they're cooked in the frypan with some butter, or stewed or baked... they're all good!

    Hi Amy - Yeah it's the ultimate comfort food, especially when it's warm and accompanied by a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

    Hi Simon - Hehe I think my whole family is enjoying my passion for cooking because they're the ones who get to eat it without putting in any effort! But I love to cook so it's not a chore for me at all :)

    Hi mademoiselle délicieuse - Yes, it's always nice to know that other appreciate your food, and having them enjoy it and ask for more is the greatest compliment!

    Hi Mark - Haha I love how you said that since there's apple it must be healthy... never mind about the all butter and sugar ;)

    Hi FFichiban - Hehe it's one of my favourites!

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