Country Apple Cake

Name: Country Apple Cake
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Australian
Ingredients: 400 g granny smith apples; 125 g Unsalted butter; 165 g caster sugar; 1 tsp Vanilla extract; 2 large eggs; 225 g self-raising flour; 1.5 tsp Ground cinnamon; 80 ml full-cream milk; 1 pinch Pinch of salt

A classic, moist country tea cake studded with spiced local apples and topped with crunchy cinnamon sugar. Simple, comforting, and perfect with tea.

🇦🇺Australia· Victoria

Prep: 20 min
Cook: 45 min
Total: 65 min
Servings: 8
Difficulty: Easy
Calories: 310 kcal

Ingredients

0 of 9 gathered

Servings

400 g granny smith apples — peeled, cored, and sliced thinly (about 2 medium apples)
125 g Unsalted butter — softened at room temperature
165 g caster sugar — plus 1 extra tablespoon for topping
1 tsp Vanilla extract — pure extract preferred
2 large eggs — at room temperature
225 g self-raising flour — sifted
1½ tsp Ground cinnamon — divided into batter and topping
80 ml full-cream milk — slightly warm or room temperature
1 pinch Pinch of salt — fine sea salt

Equipment

•20 cm round springform cake tin
•Baking paper
•Electric hand mixer or wooden spoon
•Mixing bowls
•Peeler and paring knife
•Wire cooling rack

Nutrition

Per serving, approximate

Calories: 310 kcal
fat: 13 g
carbs: 45 g
fibre: 2 g
protein: 4 g
calories: 310 kcal

Instructions

1
Preheat your oven to 180 C (160 C fan-forced).
2
Grease a 20 cm round springform cake tin and line the base with baking paper.
3
Beat the softened butter, caster sugar, and vanilla together in a bowl until pale and creamy.
4
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
5
Sift in the self-raising flour, salt, and one teaspoon of cinnamon.
6
Pour in the milk and fold gently with a spatula until just combined into a thick batter.
7
Spread half of the batter evenly into the prepared cake tin.
8
Arrange half of the sliced apples across the batter.
9
Spoon the remaining batter over the fruit and smooth the surface.
10
Press the remaining apple slices neatly on top in an overlapping circular pattern.
11
Mix the extra tablespoon of caster sugar with the remaining half teaspoon of cinnamon, then sprinkle over the top.
12
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until golden brown and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.

Chef's tips

Use a tart baking apple like Granny Smith to balance the sweet cake batter. Avoid overmixing the flour to ensure the crumb stays light and tender. Let the cake rest in the tin for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack.

Ingredient substitutions

self-raising flour → 225 g plain flour mixed with 2.5 tsp baking powder
Granny Smith apples → Pink Lady or Golden Delicious apples

Storage

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to 5 days.

Reheating

Warm individual slices in a 160 C oven for 5 to 8 minutes or microwave briefly for 20 seconds.

Common mistakes to avoid

•Using overly soft eating apples that turn to mush rather than holding their shape during baking.
•Slicing the apples too thickly, which prevents them from softening evenly in the oven.
•Opening the oven door too early, which can cause the cake centre to collapse.

Serving suggestions

Serve warm with a generous dollop of thick double cream or warm vanilla custard.Enjoy at room temperature with a freshly brewed pot of black tea.Dust lightly with extra icing sugar just before slicing.