This easy Apple Cake is made with fresh cooking apples, flour, sugar, butter, and a hint of cinnamon. This recipe creates a moist, flavorful, and incredibly comforting cake with a crisp, sugary crust. It’s the perfect sweet treat for a weekend afternoon or a simple dessert after dinner, and it makes enough to serve 8 to 10 people.
Hairy Bikers Apple Cake Ingredients
- 100g (3½ oz) unsalted butter, softened
- 175g (6 oz) light brown muscovado sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 275g (9¾ oz) self-raising flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 150ml (5 fl oz) milk
- 3 cooking apples, peeled, cored and chopped into small chunks
- 2 tbsp demerara sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
How To Make Hairy Bikers Apple Cake
- Preheat and prepare: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F / Gas mark 4). Grease and line a 20cm (8in) round cake tin with baking paper.
- Cream the butter and sugar: In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and light brown sugar together with a wooden spoon or an electric mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs: Beat the eggs one at a time into the butter and sugar mixture. Add a tablespoon of flour with each egg to prevent the mixture from curdling.
- Mix the dry ingredients: Sift the remaining self-raising flour and baking powder into the bowl. Add the milk and fold all the ingredients together with a large spoon until everything is just combined. Avoid over-mixing the batter.
- Add the apples: Gently fold the chopped apple chunks into the cake batter. Make sure they are evenly distributed.
- Bake the cake: Pour the batter into your prepared cake tin and level the top with a spatula.
- Sprinkle and bake again: In a small bowl, mix the demerara sugar and ground cinnamon together. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the top of the cake batter. Bake in the preheated oven for about 50-60 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Cool the cake: Let the cake cool in the tin for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Recipe Tips
- Use the right apples: The recipe calls for cooking apples, which are generally tarter and break down more as they cook. This creates pockets of delicious, soft apple in the cake. Bramley apples are a classic choice.
- Don’t over-mix: Over-mixing the batter can result in a dense, tough cake. Stop mixing as soon as the flour is incorporated and the batter is smooth.
- The cinnamon sugar crust: The demerara sugar and cinnamon topping is a key part of this recipe. It creates a wonderfully crunchy, caramelized crust that adds a lovely texture contrast to the moist cake. Don’t skip it!
- Check for doneness: Every oven is different. Use the skewer test to check if the cake is fully baked. If the skewer comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, it’s ready. If it’s still wet with batter, give it a few more minutes.
What To Serve Apple Cake
This simple Apple Cake is delicious on its own, but it’s even better with a few simple additions. Serve a slice with a dollop of fresh whipped cream, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or a drizzle of warm custard. It also pairs perfectly with a cup of hot black tea or coffee.
How To Store Apple Cake Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Store the Apple Cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If your kitchen is very warm, you can store it in the refrigerator for up to a week, but the texture may become a little drier.
- Freeze: To freeze the cake, wrap individual slices or the whole cake (cooled) tightly in plastic wrap, then again in foil. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Hairy Bikers Apple Cake Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Total Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
- Sodium: 250mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 55g
- Dietary Fiber: 2g
- Sugars: 35g
- Protein: 6g
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use all-purpose flour instead of self-raising? Yes, you can. If you are using all-purpose flour, you will need to add 2½ teaspoons of baking powder to the flour and whisk it together before adding it to the wet ingredients.
- Can I use a different type of apple? Yes, you can use other apples, but they will give you a different texture. Eating apples like Gala or Fuji will hold their shape more and add a sweeter flavor. Cooking apples are better for a softer, more integrated texture in the cake.
- What if my cake is too dry? A common reason for a dry cake is over-mixing the batter or baking it for too long. Make sure to only mix until the flour is just combined and use the skewer test to ensure you don’t overbake it.
Try More Recipes:
- Hairy Bikers Glamorgan Sausage Recipe
- Hairy Bikers Devilled Kidneys Recipe
- Hairy Bikers Cullen Skink Recipe
Hairy Bikers Apple Cake Recipe
Description
The Hairy Bikers Apple Cake is a classic, moist cake with a delicious, soft crumb and pockets of tart cooking apple. Topped with a crunchy cinnamon and demerara sugar crust, it’s the perfect treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease and line a 20cm cake tin.
- Cream butter and sugar, then beat in eggs one at a time.
- Sift flour and baking powder into the bowl, add milk, and fold to combine.
- Gently fold in the chopped apples and pour the batter into the tin.
- Mix demerara sugar and cinnamon, sprinkle over the top, and bake for 50-60 minutes.
