Sticky Apple Cake with Crème Normande
Equipment
- 20 x 20cm/8″ x 8″ baking tin
- Parchment paper
- Small saucepan
- Wooden spoon
- Chopping board
- Chopping knife
- Peeler
- Mixing bowl
- Measuring jug
- Standing food mixer or hand held electric whisk and bowl
- Sieve
- Serving plate
Ingredients
- 200 g unsalted butter
- 4 dessert apples
- 175 g caster sugar
- 3 egg
- 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste
- 190 g self-raising flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 2 tbsp natural yoghurt
- 2 tbsp soft light brown sugar
For the crème normande
- 300 g crème fraîche
- 2 tbsp icing sugar
- 1 tbsp brandy
For the caramel drizzle
- 50 g caster sugar
- 40 g unsalted butter
- 4 tbsp maple syrup
- 120 ml double cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 170°C.Grease and line a 20cm (5cm deep) loose bottomed cake tin.
- For the sponge, put the butter into a pan over a medium heat and allow to melt. Cook until the milk solids catch and it starts to smell nutty.Pour into a bowl and allow to cool then chill until it is set, but not hard.
- Peel, core and chop 2 of the apples.
- Put in a pan over a medium-high heat and add 50ml water and the 1 tbsp caster sugar.Cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently and adding more water if necessary, until mostly turned to a purée.Take off the heat and leave to cool completely.
- In a mixing bowl, cream the reserved brown butter and caster sugar with an electric hand mixer until light and fluffy.Beat in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Beat in the vanilla bean paste and cooled apple.Sift over the flour and baking powder with a pinch of salt, then fold into the mixture.
- Then fold in the yoghurt and set aside.Peel, core and slice the remaining two apples.
- Arrange the reminding apples over the base of the cake tin.Scatter with the brown sugar then spoon into the cake tin and bake for 1 hour until the sponge bounces back when touched.Allow to cool in the tin for 10 minutes then turn out onto a serving plate and allow to cool to room temperature.
- Put the caster sugar for the caramel in a pan over a medium high heat with 2 tbsp water and gently melt the sugar then increase the heat and bubble without stirring until it turns lovely and golden.Remove from the heat and add the rest of the ingredients, it will sputter and spit but once calm should be a smooth glossy sauce.If it starts to seize at all just rewarm it over a low heat. Allow to cool to room temperature.
- For the crème normande, beat the creme fraiche with the sugar and brandy and chill for at least an hour before serving.
- Serve the cake in slices with a dollop of the cream and a drizzle of the caramel sauce.
Notes
This sticky apple cake is served with creme normande. It’s a reliable cake that can be served as a sweet treat with coffee or brought to the dinner table in full glory with a maple caramel drizzle. The cake can be made in advance and keeps well for at least 3-5 days wrapped tightly in cling film.
Nutrition
Calories: 360kcal
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