Apple Cake (2)

Oven: 350 deg.F / 160 deg.C
Ingredients:                                                      Half Quantity:

3 cups of Self-Raising Flour                              1.1/2 cups
(or Plain Flour + 2 tsps. baking powder)             
1/2 tsp. salt (dont add this if using salted butter) 1/4 tsp.
2 tsps. ground cinnamon                                    1 tsp.
1 tsp. ground ginger                                           1 tsp. - didn't change this quantity)
1.1/4 cups of demerara sugar                             1/2 cup + half of 1/4 cup
3/4 cup of vegetable oil (sunflower is fine)       1/4 cup + half of 1/4 cup
8 tblspns. melted butter                                      4 tblspns
2 large eggs - beaten                                           1 large egg
2 tsps. vanilla                                                      1 tsp.
3 cups approx. (peeled and cored apples) - whizzed in food processor  1.1/2 cups
or coarsely grated apples
1 cup chopped walnuts, if wanted                      1/2 cup


1. Stir together the flour, (baking powder), salt and spices.
2. In a separate large bowl combine the sugar, oil, melted butter, eggs and vanilla and beat until blended.
3. Stir in the flour, apples and nuts, if using.  This mixture will be very thick.
4. 'Dollop' into your baking tin and gently smooth over with a knife.  Drop the tin gently on your worktop,  so as to even out the mixture. 
5. Bake for approx. 45 mins (maybe longer) - until the top springs back slightly and is nicely golden.
6. Cool the cake in the tin, and sift with icing sugar when cold.

Tip:
I've been using paper liners so that I dont need to grease and flour the tins - this does make life a little easier, though you dont always get such a neat shape to the baked cake.

APPLECAKE (1)

Very Easy Apple Cake (1)

Ingredients:
8ozs. sifted Self-Raising flour (or Plain flour and 2 tsps. of baking powder)
pinch of salt
1/2 - 1tsp. ground ginger
1/2 - 1tsp. mixed spice
2 eggs
4 ozs. demerara sugar
4ozs. butter - softened
approx. 3 apples, cored but dont need to peel - chopped fine in food processor
few drops of vanilla essence if wanted.

Round or Loaf Tin

1. Cream the butter and sugar
2. Beat in one egg at a time with about a tblspn. of the flour
3. Add in the remaining flour and spices and mix together - dont overbeat, but mix should be fairly nice and creamy.

If the mixture is a little too stiff for a 'dropping' consistency, add a little slightly cooled boiled water, small amount at a time.  Beat in.

4. Mix in the chopped up apple and spoon into your prepared baking tin.

I forgot to put my oven on (!) so I put the cake into a cold fan over - temp. about 150 deg.C - and baked it for approximately an hour - do check (with a skewer) though as ovens vary.

This cake is lovely warm, but just as nice cold :)

TIP: It's a good idea to use a good quality flour when baking cakes - it does make a difference.

APPLECAKE (2)

Apple Cake with Raisins - quick and easy - small cake

 
Oven: 160 deg. C - approximately 40 - 50 mins.
Ingredients:
4ozs. of soft margarine (Flora)
4ozs. Demerara sugar
2 eggs - beaten
4 ozs. self-raising flour (or plain flour + 2 tsps. baking powder) - sifted, + pinch of salt.
1 eating apple - peeled, cored and roughly chopped
a handful of either sultanas or raisins (golden or regular) - (dredged in some of the flour)
few drops of vanilla and almond essence.

1. Cream the sugar and margarine.
2. Add the eggs plus a tablespoon of flour - mix together well.
3. Add the rest of the flour, then the apples and raisins, and the essences.
4. Grease and flour a cake tin and put the batter in, gently smoothing it out.
5. When done - test with a skewer.  If it is browning too much, but not cooked through, lightly place a piece of foil over the top and leave a little longer.
6. Cool on a rack.
7. Eat :)

 



Apple and Raisin Cake - small cake and very easy

Oven: 160 deg. C - approx. 45 mins.
Ingredients:
4 ozs. (110 g) soft margerine (Olio, Flora or similar - make sure it's ok for baking)
4 ozs. demerara sugar
2 medium eggs
4ozs. self-raising flour
1 sweet apple - peeled, cored and chopped
2 - 3 tablespoons of  raisins
1/2 tsp. vanilla essence
tablespoon or two of plain yogurt, milk or warm water*, if mixture is too thick

1. Cream sugar and fat together.
2. Beat eggs and add them one at a time with a small amount of the flour.  This should stop the mixture from curdling.
3. Add vanilla.  (A few drops of both vanilla and almond essence is also nice.)
4. Dredge the raisins in flour and add both to the mix with the chopped apple.  Stir in, adding either a little milk, yogurt or warm water if the mixture looks a little thick.
5. Grease and flour a smallish cake tin/dish and bake until cooked - test the centre with a skewer.
6. Leave to cool, remove and store in an airtight container.

While it's still warm you can drizzle some Maple Syrup over the top - - yummy.

Apple Cake (small) - very easy - using sunflower oil

Oven: 180/190 deg. C - approx. 45 mins.
Ingredients:
2 apples (dessert or slightly sourer is fine) - peeled, cored and sliced
2 tablespoons of Apple Juice
2 medium Eggs
4ozs. (100g)  Demerara Sugar
1/8pt (75 ml approx.) sunflower oil
1 tsp. of good Vanilla extract
4 ozs. SR Four sieved with
1 tbls. Ground Cinnamon

1. In one bowl - add the apple juice to the apple slices and set aside while mixing the batter.
2. Whisk the eggs, sugar and oil together, for a few minutes, until light and frothy.
3. Fold in the flour/cinnamon* and then the apple slices.
4. Place in a well buttered and floured baking tin/dish and bake for approx. 45 minutes in a preheated oven.  Test the centre of the cake with a skewer, to see if cooked through. (Will come out 'clean' if cake is done).
4. Cool on a wire rack.  Sprinkle the top with icing sugar.
5. Done!

* If the batter looks a little thick, add some slightly cooled, boiled water - incorporate well, but dont overbeat  - until you have a nice consistency to  your batter.

Apple Turnovers

 

Oven: 230 deg.C
Ingredients for Filling:
'windfall' apples are just right! - or - 2 large cooking apples
100g (3.5 ozs.) caster sugar
1 tablespoon of Cornflour
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

packet (or two) of Bought Puff or Flaky Pastry
1 egg plus 1 tablespoon of water

Topping: Glace Icing
2ozs. icing sugar (60g) - sifted
approx. 1 tablespoon of water - Mix together till smooth.

1. Peel, core and slice the apples.
2. Cook the apples over a low heat, with the sugar, cornflour, lemon juice and cinnamon.  Stir frequently until the apples are tender.  Set aside to cool.
3. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface, and cut into four 6" (15cm.) squares) - or however many you have for the amount of apples.
4. Brush some of the egg/water mix over the squares.
5. Spoon about 1/8 of the apple mixture into the centre of the squares and fold diagonally in half and press the edges to seal.  Place on an ungreased baking tray and chill them in the fridge. When ready ..........
6. Brush the Turnovers with the egg mix and bake for about 20 minutes until the pastry is golden.  Cool on a wire rack.
7. Drizzle the icing over the top of the Turnovers.

All-In-One Marmalade Cake - easy as pie! ..... (well - cake!)

Oven: 180 deg. C - 1.-1/4 hrs.
Ingredients:
6ozs. (175g)  sifted self-raising flour (or plain flour plus 2 tsps. baking powder)
6ozs. caster sugar
6ozs. Flora soft margarine (or similar - read package to see whether you can use it for 'baking', as you cant with some margarines.)
3 medium eggs
3 tablspns. marmalade or apricot jam
1/2 tsp. baking powder and a pinch of salt.

1. Mix all ingredients together until you have a nice cake batter - don't over beat.
2. Place in a greased or non-stick baking dish
3. Bake - - -  test with a skewer to see if cooked through
- that's it!

note: you can also add some grated or chopped apple to this recipe.

Apple and Custard Cake

This is a really easy plain(ish) cake which is very quick and easy to make

- and tastes very good

 

  

Oven: 180 deg.C - approx. 45 mins. baking time

Ingredients:

125g butter - melted

1/2 cup of  milk

1/2 teaspoon of vanilla essence

2 eggs

1 dessert apple, 1/4d, cored - (no need to peel) and whizzed in the food processor

 

1 cup of self-raising flour - sifted

3 tablespoons of Birds Custard Powder 

3/4 - 1 cup of sugar (Demerara or caster or mix of both)

pinch of salt

 

1. Melt the butter and leave to cool a little.

2. Mix the next 4 ingredients together, then add the cooled melted butter.

3. Sift the flour into a larger bowl and add the sugar and custard powder - stir together.

4. Gently pour the liquid ingredients in and either using an electric whisk, beat gently, or fold in using a wooden spoon.

5. Pour into your greased or non-stick baking dish and bake until just about coming away from the edges of the dish - approx. 45 mins. (Test with a skewer to make sure it's done.)

.......... if you fancy trying this autumn pie recipe - it's also very delicious:
Apple & Cranberry Pie

Apple Cake - Amish Recipe

 

you can make these as small cakes too
 

Oven: 180 deg.C (350 deg.) - 45 minutes (approx.)

Ingredients:
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla

1.1/2 cups of plain flour
1/2 cup of whole wheat flour (or 2 cups of SR Four) - sifted
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt

5 cups of raw apples - peeled/chopped

1. Blend the first 4 ingredients together in a large mixing bowl.
2. Add the next 5 ingredients - stir well
3. Fold in the apples and spread the batter in your baking tin (9"x13")
4. After 45 minutes, test with a skewer to see if cooked through.
5. Cool, serve and eat :)

The cake/s can also be zapped quickly in the Micro and eaten hot with custard or cream - as a pud :)

Recipe slightly adapted from: "Cakes from Amish & Mennonite Kitchens"
- Pennsylvania Dutch Cookbooks.

Flu! Bah!

Unfortunately I've been down with the dreaded flu bug - though fortunately (or not) I didn't really lose much of my appetite!  According to the doctor, you can take lots of things to relieve the nasty cough and sore throat, which I did, but felt most of them were a waste of money.  

However ........... I found a good teaspoon of Manuka Honey in a hot orange or lemon drink (lemon or orange juice and hot water) is as good as anything, and seemed to work quite well.  I sipped it during the night too, and this did help with the cough.

There are some good recipes on the Manuka Honey website - and if you fancy a little treat - try my Honey & Apple Cake - apparently Cinnamon is also good for you -  I cant guarantee it will get rid of the flu - but with cake and a nice cup of tea, you might feel more relaxed :)

Dutch Apple Cake and Amsterdam

The herrings and smoked eel are just delicious!

Dutch Apple Cake

Ingredients:
4 eggs
50g caster sugar
2 tbls. lemon juice
1 tbls. grated lemon zest
150g granulated sugar
250 ml. sunflower oil
250g plain flour
2 tsps. baking powder
1 tsp. any of these to your taste: mixed spice, cinnamon, ginger
750g cooking apples - peeled, 1/4'd and sliced
50g flaked almonds

1. Heat oven to 170 deg.C
2. Beat eggs and caster sugar for a few minutes until it is nice and aerated.
3. Mix the lemon juice, zest and 100g of the granulated sugar and add to the egg mix, beating well.
4. Add the oil, beating till well incorporated.
5. Sift in the flour, baking powder, and spice - fold in well.
6. Put half the batter into a deep sided 23 cm greased baking tin and add half the apples.
7. Spoon in the remaining batter and cover with the the rest of the apples.
8. Scatter with the remaining 50g sugar and flaked almonds or crumble topping*.

Bake for 1.1/2 hrs. approx.
Turn off the heat, partly open the door and leave to cool in the oven.

*Basic Crumble Topping:
100g/4oz Flour
50g/2oz Butter
50g/2oz Sugar

Apple Cake - easy

(well - - - it tasted good !)

Oven: 190 deg. C (gas 6)
Ingredients:
2 eggs
175g demerara sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

85g. butter
75 ml. milk
melted together & cooled slightly

125g plain flour or less flour and make up a little of the weight with ground almonds
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2.1/4 tsps. baking powder
sift the flour and spices together, then add the ground almonds - if using.

2 cooking apples (small/med.) or 2 dessert apples (eg.Braeburn, Cox's) - peeled, cored and chopped

Method:
1. Using an electric mixer - whisk the eggs, sugar and vanilla until thick and creamy.
2. Add the slightly cooled milk/butter and mix together.
3. Add the flour - using the mixer add about 1/4 of the flour then stir in the rest by hand. (You can dump all the flour in and beat it with the hand mixer too - but it always comes out slightly lighter, mixing some flour in by hand.)
4. Stir in the chopped apple.

This is a slightly loose mix - pour into your prepared baking dish and bake for approx. 40 - 45 mins. - check after 1/2 hr. to see if the centre is done*. If the cake browns too early - cover lightly with some foil and check regularly until done.

Dust with icing sugar to make it look pretty (although I didn't manage to get that far!)

* press down very lightly and you can usually tell whether the centre still needs cooking. If it feels firm and spongey - then it's done.

Apple & Cranberry Pie - American Recipe

While having a big sort-out - I found this recipe in my collection ......... I originally jotted it down in 1983! while we were in New York. As you'll probably guess, I haven't made it in a long time (!) but I do remember when I did make it - it was really good! I'm so pleased I re-found it as I intend making another one for Christmas!

The pie/s are made with Hot Water Crust pastry.

Oven: 400F - 40-45 mins. (approx.)

Ingredients:
Pastry:
5 cups of unsifted SR Flour
1 tsp. salt
2 egg yolks

Boil together
1.1/2 cups of water &
3/4 cup of vegetable shorteneing

Add the boiling water mix to the dry ingredients to make the pastry -
Roll out, on a floured surface, for either small tarts or one large pie - (save approx. half the pastry for the lid/s).
Leave to rest in the fridge for about 30 mins.

Meanwhile make The Filling:
1 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
8 cups of apples - peeled and diced/chopped
12 ozs. of Fresh cranberries
2 tbls. melted butter
1/3 cup of flour

(+ 1 beaten egg for glazing)

Combine all the filling ingredients (except the egg).
Fill pie or small tarts and put the lids on - crimp the edges to seal and slash the tops for steam to escape.
Brush with the beaten egg.

Bake till richly brown and serve with custard or a lovely double cream - or creme anglaise if you have the time to make some.

Apple & Rosemary Cake - Italian recipe

Ursula Ferrigno's recipe:

Ingredients:
4ozs. (100g) unsalted butter
12ozs. (approx. (350g) cored,peeled,thinly sliced Braeburn or Cox's Apples
4 free range eggs
5ozs. (150g) caster sugar
5 ozs. plain white or Italian 00 flour sifted with 1 tsp. baking pdr, & pinch of salt.
1 tsp. finely chopped fresh rosemary (young leaves are best)
finely grated zest of 1 unwaxed lemon
icing sugar to dust

OVEN: 180C, 350F, Gas 4

Method:
Melt the butter and set aside to cool.

Put the eggs and sugar in a pyrex bowl standing over a saucepan of gently simmering water.
Whisk for approx. 10-15 mins. until the mix is thick, pale and leaves a trail when the beaters are lifted out.
Remove the bowl and continue beating until the mixture is cool.

Gently fold in half the flour and the rosemary into the whisked eggs and sugar.
Slowly trickle the melted butter around the edge of the bowl and gently fold in. Take care not to stir the mix to heavily.

Fold in the remaining flour and the lemon zest and lastly fold in the sliced apples.

Pour the cake mix into your prepared tin and bake for approx. 40 mins (or longer depending on your oven) - bake until the cake has come away from the sides of the tin - test with a skewer to make sure it's cooked through.

Leave to rest in the tin for about 5 mins then turn out on to a wire rack and leave to cool. Dust with icing sugar to serve.

This is also very good served with creme fraiche/pouring cream and fruit compotes.

Spiced Apple Cake

Ingredients:
125 g butter
225 g dark muscovado sugar
2 eggs lightly beaten
225 g plain flour 225g
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp ground cinnamon
300 g cooking apples, diced

Topping:
1- 2 tbsp clear honey
1- 2 tbsp demerara sugar


Method:
1. Pre-heat oven to 160, Fan 140.
2. Cream the butter and muscovado sugar for a couple of minutes, then mix in the eggs.
3. Fold together and stir in the apple.
4. Sift in the flour, baking powder and spices.
5. Pour into a well buttered tin and bake for 1 hour.
6. Combine the honey and sugar and paint onto the top with a pastry brush.

Keeps foiled for 4 days maybe longer.
- I love apple cakes.

Apple Brulee

Ingredients:
2 lbs. cooking apples, peeled and cored
squeeze of lemon juice
- cook with just enough water to cover bottom of pan.
When soft, bring to boil and add just under an ounce of sugar and boil gently for 5 minutes. (Stir to stop apples from burning base of saucepan). Pour puree into dish to give about a 1" depth and leave to cool.
Dont forget to taste it - - you may like it sweeter.

Whisk together till light and fluffy and fold into puree -
1/4pt. double cream & 1/4pt. single cream
+ Grated rind of a lemon - spread creamy mix over apple puree.

Chill again to - just before needed.
Cover with 1/4 - 1/2" layer of soft brown sugar.
Before serving place under grill to caramelise sugar topping.
Serve.

If you dont want to bother with the caramel topping - whizz up some nice chocolate biscuits (or your favourite biscuits) into crumbs and sprinkle over the top.
You can also substitute half yogurt, creme fraiche or similar, in place of the single cream.

Apple and Blackberry Cake

This is a small cake and is really fast and easy to make.

Ingredients:

2 eggs - weigh these and use the same weight for
SR flour (or plain flour with 2 tsps baking pdr)
Butter and
Demerara Sugar
Using an electric beater, cream the butter and sugar.
Add about a tablespoon of flour and 1 egg, then a little more flour and the other egg.
Beat together, till light and creamy, but do not overbeat.
Fold in the remaining flour and add
1 or 2 cups of Blackberries
1 Apple (not too sweet) - peeled, cored and chopped
few drops of vanilla and about a tsp. of grated lemon rind.
Mix together well, and use a little warm/hot water if the batter seems a little stiff. This also helps lighten the batter. It should be a nice 'dropping' consistency.
Pour into your greased/floured baking dish* and bake at 350F or 180/90C for approx. 30-40 mins. Test with a skewer to see if done. The top of the cake should feel firm.
*The rubbery baking dishes are great!

Amish Apple Cake

Ingredients:
1 cup** of demerara sugar
1 cup of sunflower oil
3 beaten eggs
1 tsp vanilla
Blend these 4 ingredients together. (- an electric beater's good).
Fold in:
1.1/2 cups of plain flour - sieved
1/2 cup of whole wheat flour - sieved with
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 or 2 tsp. baking powder
big pinch of salt
Stir together well.
Fold in:
5 cups of raw, peeled, diced apples (about 1.1/4 lbs.)
a handful of sultanas doused in a little flour - (this should stop them sinking!)
Stir together gently, but mixed well.
Pour into a greased and floured 9" x 13" baking dish.
Sprinkle on top of cake mix:
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 cup of sugar

Oven: 190 deg.C or 350 deg.F for approx. 45 mins. - test with skewer to see if cooked through. The skewer should come out clean and not sticky. (Another way of telling your cake is done is that it has slightly come away from the edges of your baking tin.)

This is an Amish cake recipe taken from Cakes - Amish & Mennonite Kitchens by Pennsylvania Dutch Cookbooks
**The 'cup' size measures are US cup size.