What is your favourite type of cake?
For me, the answer is chocolate cake. I'm not fussy about the type of chocolate cake though, as it could be this flourless chocolate orange cake, or this sticky chocolate cake, or this lighter and fluffier style of chocolate cake. It just needs to be brimming with that rich chocolate flavour, without being too rich or sickly, and definitely not dry and crumbly. Armed with a slice of chocolate cake and a cup of tea and I'm one happy girl.
As far as my husband goes his favourite type of cake is apple cake. Over the years I've made a number of different apple cakes, some fancy, some more on the plain side, which, is my husband's preference. And while the other apple cakes have been perfectly fine, delicious even, the search for what I consider to be the ultimate apple cake continues.
My latest foray into the apple cake world is this beautiful spiced Apple Cider Cake. It's brimming with apples, both pureed and incorporated into the cake batter, and wantonly peeking out of the top of the cake. It also has that rustic look, as I think any good apple cake should.
This apple cider cake begins by bathing slices of apple in a bubbling combination of apple cider, caster sugar, vanilla and cinnamon, which are left to cook for a few minutes before being set aside to cool. Then one-third of the apples are pureed, ready to be incorporated into the cake batter, and the remaining apples reserved for the top of the cake.
The apple cider cake itself is quite a simple yoghurt cake, and while I've used regular white flour here, I think a wholemeal version would also be beautiful. While the cake is baking the remaining soaking liquid is reduced and kept warm to drizzle over the top of the cake the minute it comes out of the oven. The result is a beautiful sticky moist apple topping with a delicious spicy cake base.
This Apple Cider Cake is the type of cake you want to take time out of your afternoon to savour with a cup of tea or coffee, or perhaps even a glass of apple cider. 😉
So tell me, what is your favourite type of cake? And do you have an amazing apple cake recipe? If so, I'd love to hear about it.
Apple Cider Cake
Ingredients
- APPLE TOPPING
- 6 large Granny Smith apples peeled, cored and sliced
- 250 cup mls of apple cider 1
- 115 g of caster sugar ½ cup
- 1 vanilla bean split and seeds scraped
- 1 cinnamon quill
- CAKE
- 210 g of plain flour 1 ½ cups, all purpose
- 3 tsp of baking powder
- 1 tsp of baking soda
- 100 g of butter 3.5 oz
- 90 g of brown sugar ½ cup
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp of ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp of ground cardamon
- ¼ tsp of ground cloves
- ⅔ cup of Greek yoghurt
Instructions
- Start by making the apple topping. Place the apple cider and caster sugar in a saucepan and place over a low heat. Stir until the sugar has dissolved and turn the heat up to high and bring to a boil. Add vanilla seeds and pod, cinnamon quill and apple pieces and reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes or until the apples are just tender. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
- Once the apples are cool puree ⅓ of the apple mixture in a blender or food processor and set aside.
- To make the cake, preheat the oven to 180 celsius (350 fahrenheit) and place the butter and brown sugar in a bowl of an electric mixer and cream until pale and golden. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well between each addition before adding the apple puree. Sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder and spices, and fold through. Finally add the Greek yoghurt and mix until just combined.
- Place the mixture into a 22cm round non stick spring form tin that has been lined with baking paper and spread until smooth. Starting from the middle, place the apple pieces in a circle and repeat until the whole cake is covered. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out cleanly.
- minutes before the cake is ready take the remaining apple cider and place over a high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and simmer for 10 minutes until the syrup has reduced and become more golden in colour.
- When the cake comes out of the oven drizzle the top of the cake with the apple cider syrup and leave to cool before serving.
Donna Dee says
It doesn't say in the recipe if you drain the apples that have been cooked in cider before you purée - do you use half of the apples AND liquid, or drain before halving?
Nicole @ Delicious Everyday says
Sorry the recipe wasn't clearer Donna. Drain the liquid and then use 1/3 of the apples for the puree. I hope that helps. Let me know how it turns out 🙂
Nancy | Plus Ate Six says
I don't like cakes that are cloyingly sweet - so this one is right up my street. It helps that your photos are so sumptuous too!
Nicole @ Delicious Everyday says
Thank you Nancy 🙂 I hope you enjoy the cake!
Alanna says
Could that cake be any more beautiful?! The photos are absolutely mouthwatering! This is my new favorite cake. 🙂
Justyna says
I baked this cake last saturday. I forgot add yogurt but cake was good, fluffy and delicious. You have beautiful photos 🙂
anna @ annamayeveryday says
I have made a few apple cakes but this one I particularly like the look of - I will give it a try!
Jennifer says
I hope you enjoy it Anna 😀
Jen Laceda @ Tartine and Apron Strings says
I'm bookmarking this and trying this at home! I'm literally in a lunge position now...I want to attack this cake! So mouthwatering...! I like the way you placed the apple slices, too! Like a rosette - so cute!
Chris says
That is a beautiful looking apple cake. From what I see on the list of ingredients this would be a lovely variation from what I tried so far. I especially like the use of cardamon and Greek yogurt.
Janet says
This looks delicious and it is beautiful! I wonder if you could guide me to a conversion chart grams to cup ratio. LOL! I think I can figure the cm to inches...
Jennifer says
Hi Janet,
Sure 😀 I have a conversion chart available here I hope that helps 😀
Jennifer says
Hi Janet, since I responded I've actually updated the recipe to convert the grams to cups for you. I hope that helps 😀
Thanh @ eat, little bird says
I love the sound of this cake, particularly since I love anything with apple in it. I love the use of cider in this cake - it sounds quite unusual but it must give the apples a wonderful flavour. It's hard for me to choose a favourite type of cake, but I do tend towards plain cakes or crumble cakes.
Joe says
This has just become my favorite apple cake recipe! My darling wife went looking for apple cakes and decided to try this one. It is brilliant! It tastes gorgeous and looks fab 🙂
One of my favorite cake recipes is for a spiced chocolate cake. Its really simple and made with oil as the fat so you just throw all the ingredients into a mixer (ok you have to melt the chocolate first), bake it and slather it in chocolate butter cream.
Joe says
Found the recipe for the chocolate spice cake (I think). It was in an ancient cook book of my mums and is now online - http://www.be-ro.co.uk/recipe/showrec89.html
Jennifer says
Hi Joe,
Thank you so much for your kind words regarding my apple cake. I'm so pleased to hear you enjoyed it, and in fact your feedback has made my day! And thanks for sending through the link for the chocolate spice cake. It sounds delicious! 😀
Jas says
A gorgeous cake and something, although I do love a good chocolate cake, something different is called for. I love that this has so much apple goodness in it and the top must be so deliciously sticky!
Ilan (IronWhisk Blog) says
Wow. I absolutely love apple cake! I never put cider into mine though. I think I'm going to try that out. 🙂
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
I love apple cakes, this one looks especially lovely!
Hannah says
This sounds like it would go brilliantly with a cup of Lapsang Souchong!
Von says
Chocolate cakes are definitely my favourite too- and any type of chocolate cake is good for me so long as it tastes chocolatey 😀 I've yet to try apple cake, though I've been meaning too- I love the way you've arranged the apples on this- it's so pretty 🙂
Daisy@Nevertoosweet says
This is a tough one to answer....what type of cakes? ALL Types of cake 😛 But my absolute favourite would have to Chocolate cake any type of it hehe then followed by carrot cake, hummingbird cake 🙂 I like really moist and dense cakes ~
But my boyfriend is like your husband he likes apple desserts lol apple pie, apple cake, apple everything ~
johannaGGG says
I love chocolate cakes best of all too but I have a young one who tells me she loves apple cakes so I have good intentions of making her one but always get distracted - must try harder - this cakes looks like what I need to make
Stephanie The Dessert Spoon says
I love any cake with chocolate or spices. Your apple cider cake is just my sort of thing! I really look forward to making it.
thelittleloaf says
I'm a chocolate cake lover too but this looks divine - I love that photo with the thick cut slice and beautiful apples on top. Just gorgeous.
Claire @ Claire K Creations says
Ooh it looks so golden and delicious. I wouldn't mind a slice with my tea right now.
Carole says
Chocolate is my favorite too, but this looks amazing!
Jennifer says
Thanks Carole 😀
Jennifer says
This cake is going on my "to bake" list! (and beautiful photos)
I have such a sweet tooth, so it's hard for me to pick one cake, but if I had to, it would be a chocolate layer cake with chocolate icing (and a big glass of cold milk). Simply perfect.
Jennifer says
Great pick Jennifer. It seems we share more than just the same name 😀
Danijela says
When it comes to cakes, I am not really an expert, so I stick to the good old apple pie. But I like your recipe, just lovely!
Jennifer says
I agree, you can't beat a good apple pie. It's another one of my husbands favourites too 😀
Christine @ Cooking Crusade says
Mmm I just love apple cakes but I think I'm with you that chocolate is the best!! hehe.
Martyna @ Wholesome Cook says
Love that crust on this Jennifer, and the moist crumb on the inside. It screams to be eaten! My favourite cake, it would probably have to be carrot cake, or a good tiramisu with cream instead of mascarpone. Yes, lots of creammmm.... and that's what I'd serve this baby with!
Kathryn says
This cake really does sound delicious and it looks beautiful - such stunning pictures!
Jennifer says
Thanks Kathryn. I was quite pleased with how it turned out, and more importantly it got my husbands seal of approval. 😀
Rosa says
A delicious treat, I'm sure! I am a sucker for apple cakes. Nice clicks and lovely presentation/props.
Cheers,
Rosa
Joanne T Ferguson says
WOW! I am not a baker per se!
But the apple and cinnamon combination would make anyone's day!
Jennifer says
I agree, apple and cinnamon is such a great combination. I love cardamon and cloves with apples too.
Sneh | Cook Republic says
Such a lovely cake Jen!! My fav would have to be Apple Crumble (although not a cake) 🙂
Jennifer says
Mmmm apple crumble is such a classic. I love it too. 😀