Farmhouse Apple Cake Food

IRISH APPLE CAKE

Steps:

• Set the oven to 350F Grease a 9 inch springform pan.
• Make the custard sauce ahead of time. Bring the milk to a simmer over medium heat. Meanwhile whisk the yolks and sugar until well combined. Drizzle a little of the hot milk into the egg mixture, whisking all the time. Drizzle a little more, then transfer that back into the pan of hot milk and continue cooking, stirring constantly, until the mixture coats the back of a spoon. Do this slowly, over medium heat, and I like to use a silicone spoon or spatula to scrape the bottom and sides of the pan as it heats. The mixture will become velvety and thickend, but it will not be as thick as pudding. It will continue to thicken as it cools, so don't overcook or it can curdle. Stir in the vanilla.
• Pour the custard through a sieve (to catch any stray lumps) into a heat proof jar or bowl and place a piece of plastic wrap onto the surface so it won't form a skin as it cools. Put in the refrigerator until completely chilled.
• To make the streusel topping, blend the bits of butter into the flour, sugar, and oats until the butter is incorporated and the mixture has a coarse crumbly texture. Put in the refrigerator.
• Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Fold the dry ingredients into the butter/sugar mixture, along with the milk or cream.
• Spoon the batter into your prepared pan, and smooth out evenly. Top with the sliced apples, and then the streusel topping. Note: no need to arrange the apples perfectly, but try to get them in an even layer.
• Bake for about 50 minutes to an hour, until the top is lightly browned and a toothpick comes out without wet batter clinging to it.
• Let cool a bit in the pan before removing. Dust with confectioner's sugar before serving.

IRISH APPLE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Make the custard sauce ahead of time. Bring the milk to a simmer over medium heat. Meanwhile whisk the yolks and sugar until pale. Drizzle a little of the hot milk into the egg mixture, whisking all the time. Drizzle a little more, then transfer that back into the pan of hot milk and continue cooking, stirring constantly, until the mixture coats the back of a spoon. Don't overcook or it can curdle. Stir in the vanilla. Refrigerate the custard sauce until needed.
• To make the streusel topping, blend the bits of butter into the flour, sugar, and oats until the butter is incorporated and the mixture has a coarse crumbly texture. Put in the refrigerator.
• To make the cake, grease a 9 inch round spring form pan.
• Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Fold the dry ingredients into the butter/sugar mixture, along with the milk or cream.
• Spoon the batter in to the pan, and smooth out evenly. Top with the sliced apples, and then the streusel topping.
• Bake for about 50 minutes to an hour, until the top is lightly browned and a toothpick comes out without wet batter clinging to it.
• Let cool a bit in the pan before removing. Dust with confectioner's sugar before serving.

DORSET APPLE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Butter and line a deep 20cm cake tin with baking parchment.
• Mix the flour and cinnamon together in a large bowl. Add the butter and rub into the flour using your fingers, until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. Stir in the light brown sugar. Beat in the egg followed by 6-8 tbsp of milk - add it gradually until you have a smooth, thick batter.
• Add the apples and sultanas and mix to combine. Scrape the batter into the prepared tin and gently level out. Sprinkle over the demerara sugar, if using, and bake for 30-40 mins or until golden and a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.
• Allow to cool in the tin for 15 mins and then carefully turn out onto a wire rack to cool further. Best served still warm with a little custard.

FARMHOUSE APPLE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 190C. Grease and flour a 28cm (11in) loose-bottomed round cake tin or deep dish pizza pan. Peel, core and quarter apples. Slice apple sections crosswise into very thin slivers. Beat eggs and sugar together in large bowl with wire whisk until sugar has dissolved. Sift and stir in flour, then mix in the milk, melted butter and vanilla. Blend mixture thoroughly. Quickly stir in baking powder, then fold in sliced apples. Pour mixture into the prepared tin and bake on the floor of oven for 10 min, transfer tin to center rack and bake for further 50-55 min until cake is golden brown. Turn cake out on a wire cooling rack and leave to cool. Serve warm or at room temperature, dusted with sifted icing sugar.

FARMHOUSE SULTANA CAKE

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 170c, butter and base line a cake tin.
• Sift plain flour, with the mixed spice, and bicarb of soda into a large bowl; stir in wholemeal flour.
• Rub the butter in until it resembles fine breadcrumbs, then add the sultanas and sugar.
• Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients, and add the milk.
• Beat gently until well mixed and of a dropping consistency, add more milk if needed. Turn into prepared tin.
• Bake in center of oven for 1 hour 40min. Until well cooked.
• Turn out onto wire rack.