Tuesday, 28 February 2012

Spicy Apple Rye Cake

Things are a little bit hectic in our house just now and there's not a lot of time for baking.  Let's not stop at baking, there's not a lot of time for putting on make-up, waxing legs, adult conversations - I could go on but no-one likes a moaner.  They say things get easier when the kids get a bit older - I'm not sure if  my personal hygiene (or my tolerance of Peppa Pig) can wait that long!



I decided to lock myself into the kitchen on Sunday morning while everyone ran feral around the house.  They'd have to find the breakfast cereal by their sense of smell.   I've had a packet of rye flour in the cupboard for far too long with a best before date fast approaching. I knew I wouldn't have the time, patience or inclination to make a loaf of bread with it so when I saw this recipe I figured it would do nicely - it's the "one pot wonder" of the baking world which was perfect before the wolves started banging down the door demanding food and clothes.
A little bit of tweaking here and substitution there and you've got yourself a Spicy Apple Rye Cake. The syrup is brushed onto the cake as soon as it comes out of the oven and it gives it a lovely moistness and a nice shiny glaze.




Spicy Apple Rye Cake adapted from this Waitrose recipe

For the cake
200ml sunflower oil
zest of 1 lemon
100g dark brown sugar
100g soft light brown sugar
3 large eggs
125g rye flour
75g plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
3 apples (I used Pink Lady) peeled and cored. Chop 2 apples into chunks and the remaining apple into half moons

For the syrup
100ml apple juice
2 tbsp golden syrup
1 tbsp butter

Method
Preheat oven to 180C (350F). Grease and line a 23cm springform tin with parchment paper. Gently whisk the oil, zest and sugars together. Add the eggs, one by one and whisk until fully combined. Fold in the flours and spices until well combined then add the apple chunks until well distributed.
Pour batter into prepared tin and place the half mooned apples into the batter and press down slightly. Bake for 50-60 mins, or until golden brown and a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.
20 minutes before the cake is cooked, start making the syrup. Place all ingredients into a small saucepan and bring to the boil. Boil gently for about 15 minutes until the mixture becomes syrupy. As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, brush the apples and the cake with the syrup.
Allow to cool in the tin.


8 comments:

  1. Oh Claire, I so loved this post - it reminded me so much of my house at the moment. Sometimes Sunday's baking in the kitchen is the only bit of sanity I get! Anyway, your cake looks lovely and I can almost smell it baking away in the oven. Yum!

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  2. Your cake looks delicious! I love anything with apple - yum! It was worth your while locking yourself in the kitchen! ;-)

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  3. I love the apple pattern on top of the cake. I bet it made a gorgeous smell in the oven.

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  4. It sounds like you have your hands full at the minute! Nice to escape to the kitchen for a bit of peace, baking a cake always makes me feel better and restores a sense of calm. Cake looks really delicious and I'm sure it tasted it too!

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  5. Ladies, Thanks for visiting. Things are hectic just now but nothing that a cup of tea and a slice of cake wouldn't cure - at least for 15 mins!

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  6. I do like fruit in a cake, especially apple...this looks lovely. I've never tried baking with Rye flour! Hope you managed to eat in a slice in peace and quiet!

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  7. I thought the same way with my 2 yr old boy...but I heard from my colleagues with older kids that as the children get older, there will be different sets of challenge and life can be never be as relaxing as being child-less...

    Your blog is very interesting with lots of yummy bakes. I would love to follow you and talk about our kids and baking more often :D

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  8. Laura - First time using rye flour too - I've heard that it's quite difficult to knead when making bread so perfect for cakes.

    Zoe - So things don't get easier then? You've made my day Zoe ;)

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