Denise says:

  • This apple cake is flavoured with mixed spice and cinnamon giving it real depth of flavour.
  • You can make it in advance and it will keep for 1-2 days before serving.
  • Top tip: let the cake completely cool before adding your ‘Chevington medium fat soft cheese’ icing.
 
  • Preparation Time: 25 minutes plus at least 30 minutes cooling
  • Cooking Time: 40 minutes plus 40 minutes for the apple crisps
  • Serves:  8 people

Ingredients:

  • 175g caster sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 110g applesauce
  • 30ml vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 250g plain flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon mixed spice
  • Pinch teaspoon salt
  • 3 Granny Smith apples – peeled, cored & roughly chopped
  •  
  • Cinnamon Cheese Icing
  • 200g Chevington medium fat soft cheese
  • 360g icing sugar 20ml full fat milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch salt
  • 120g butter – melted
  • Garnish:  Apple Crisps – 2 Granny Smith apples, slice with the skin on Sprigs of mint

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 180°C / 350°F / Gas mark 4.
  2. Line a 1kg loaf tin with baking parchment.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk the sugar, eggs, applesauce, oil and vanilla extract until well blended.
  4. In another bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Gradually beat this into sugar mixture. Fold in apples.
  5. Transfer to prepared cake tin and using a spoon, level the mixture. Bake for 35 – 40 minutes, or until top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean. Cool completely in the cake tin for at least 30 minutes.
  6. In a small bowl, whisk the Chevington medium fat soft cheese, icing sugar, milk, vanilla and pinch of salt until smooth. Gradually add the melted butter. Spread over cake and refrigerate for about 15 minutes before serving.
  7. To make the apple crisps, preheat the oven to 140°C / 300°F / Gas mark 1. Thinly slice the apple through the core – use a mandolin, if you have one. Arrange the slices on a baking tray lined with parchment and bake for 40 mins. Cool until crisp.
  8. Arrange the cooled apple crisps and sprigs of mint on top of the cake for an impressive finish.