Apples

[Wic Profile]

It hasn’t happened yet, but a glut of Bramleys is imminent here. I’m not complaining, by the way, and neither are my neighbours and friends!

The apples get used in all sorts of ways and it occurred to me that I’d never seen a recipe for a cake, like a Victoria sandwich, with a stewed apple filling, rather than jam. I think the apple would have to be drier than the usual stewed apple, and the cake would have to have a layer of cream above and below the apple, but it might work. Has anyone ever done this? I can’t find a recipe, so maybe it’s not a feasible proposition.

[Stokey Sue Profile]

I think apple butter would make a great cake filling?

But agree that variations on apple sauce would need some kind of starchy thickener, like canned pie filling, and it would maybestill be wet enough to make the cake soggy

[Suelle Profile Website]

I've found a few recipes using eating apples in the filing for a sponge sandwich cake, but as the pieces or slices hold their shape, once drained after cooking they wouldn't be as sloppy as cooked Bramley apples.

Here's one, with caramelised apples https://theusualingredients.wordpress.c ... e-filling/

Bramleys might be worth trying - I saw one recipe which thickened the cooked apples with cornflour - but they don't have a lot of flavour compared to berry jam or something like lemon curd. You could use the cream as a border around the edge of the bottom cake, to hold in the apples.

This recipe is the one I saw which used cornflour in the apple sauce, but it doesn't look very appetising to me - definitely needs some cream! https://eatsmarter.com/recipes/sponge-c ... ce-filling.

There seem to be lots of recipes with grated apple in the cake mixture, but again, they tend to use eating apples

[KeenCook2 Profile]

This is a fantastic recipe - originally on BBC Good Food, but that link doesn't work any more. Good old Mumsnet!!
https://www.mumsnet.com/food/recipe/227 ... apple-cake

[Wic Profile]

Both really good ideas. A Caramelised apple filling sounds perfect, Suelle! I put the recipe into CopyMeThat immediately.

We often make apple butter, Sue, and that would work, too. I think I was too fixated on the thought that stewed apple and cream go really well together, but it probably needs too much faffing about to make it work well.

I make cakes for a weekly local community afternoon tea session, and need to expand my repertoire a bit, I’m getting bored with my usuals. However, the clientele are quite exacting. It has to be a proper cake, preferably with a filling and icing, there always needs to be a chocolate one, a coffee and walnut and a Victoria sponge or a lemon drizzle. Anything else has to take it’s chances, but if someone tries it and likes it, then it’s accepted. I sneaked a ginger cake in, and that’s OK.

[Wic Profile]

Thank you KeenCook - I’m really glad I asked the question, the answers are really useful.

I’ve tried various versions of Devon Apple cake, and others with apples in the batter, but they never seem very exciting. Maybe that’s just me, but yours, however, could work well for me.

[KeenCook2 Profile]

Yes, I always come back to that one, Wic. Other recipes never seem to quite get it right!

[ZeroCook Profile]

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[janetmw Profile]

This is a fantastic recipe - originally on BBC Good Food, but that link doesn't work any more. Good old Mumsnet!!
https://www.mumsnet.com/food/recipe/227 ... apple-cake

You can get to a copy of the original recipe here:

https://web.archive.org/web/20130317230 ... apple-cake

Janet

[KeenCook2 Profile]

Thanks, Janet, I had no idea such an archive existed. I noticed my printout was from March 2010 but the recipe has evidently been around a lot longer!

[RockyBVI Profile]

This is a fantastic recipe - originally on BBC Good Food, but that link doesn't work any more. Good old Mumsnet!!
https://www.mumsnet.com/food/recipe/227 ... apple-cake

I can second this one. I also found it on Good Food. Everyone loves it.

[RockyBVI Profile]

And thank you KC2 for the link. Great to have it again!

[Wic Profile]

Well. I thought I’d try out both of the apple methods suggested before I commit to a cake, and had a go with the caramelised one this morning while I was cooking up a batch of our tomatoes. I cut a Bramley windfall into small cubes and caramelised it, as per the recipe. Really good. It’s not too sweet, probably because of it being a Bramley, but wow. My husband, who doesn’t have a sweet tooth at all, tried a large spoonful and has since had more and suggested it would be good on toast, on porridge, on scones …

[KeenCook2 Profile]

In the new Good Housekeeping there is a nice recipe for Blackberry, Apple and Lancashire Cheese cake.
Not sure what the rules are on sharing it with you ...
It's on p 158 if you happen to be in a newsagent and want to take a quick look to get the feel of it.

[Wic Profile]

Thank you - I can get GH on my library app, I’ll take a look!

[scullion Profile]

that looks like a good recipe - especially with apple season coming up.
(we are still eating the dried apple rings from last year).