Spiced Toffee Apple Cake

We've kept it no surprise that we're huge fans of apple here at LJC HQ. So when we come across a recipe that combines not only apples but toffee the end result can of course only be a happy one. This recipe comes from the BBC Good Food website and is perfect for a cosy afternoon by the fire. If you're more of a grab and go kind of baker then this recipe works fantastic as muffins too. 

Spiced Toffee Apple Cake 

Serves 15 | To prepare 45 mins | To cook 1 hr plus cooling

Ingredients 

• 200g dates, roughly chopped
• 200ml milk , plus a splash
• 250g butter , softened, plus extra for greasing
• 280g self-raising flour
• 200g light soft brown sugar
• ½ tsp baking powder
• 4 large eggs
• 1 tbsp mixed spice
• 2 tsp vanilla extract 
• 3 small red apples
• squeeze lemon juice
• handful of toffees
• a little icing sugar , for dusting

Method

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease and line a 20 x 30cm baking tray with baking parchment. 
• Put the dates and milk in a small pan and bring to a simmer. 
• Remove from the heat and set aside for 15 mins to cool.
• Whizz the date mixture to a smooth purée in a food processor or blender, then scrape into a large mixing bowl. 
• Tip in the butter, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, eggs, mixed spice and vanilla, and set aside while you prepare the apples.
• Quarter and core the apples, then slice quite thinly, tossing in a little lemon juice as you go. 
• Quickly beat together the cake ingredients with an electric whisk until smooth, then scrape into the baking tray. 
• Arrange the apple slices, overlapping in rows, on top of the cake - you should be able to get 3 rows lengthways down the tray. 
• Bake for 45-50 mins until a skewer poked into the centre of the cake comes out clean. Cool in the tray.
• Put the toffees in a small pan with a good splash of milk and gently melt, stirring, until runny. 
• To finish, dust with a little icing sugar, then drizzle sauce all over the cake. Cut into squares or slices to serve.

Enjoy with a nice big mug of tea!

Hope you're all having a great Thursday!

LJC

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