Cake recipes
1. A simple recipe that can make an apple cake or apple muffins: 8oz self raising flour 1 flat teaspoon of baking powder 5oz margarine 8oz sugar 2 beaten eggs equivalent of 1 large apple, peel, cored, and diced Method Set oven at Gas 4 or 180°C. Sift flour & baking powder into a bowl or food mixer. Add diced margarine and sugar. Add 2 beaten eggs. Beat all together. Stir in diced apple. (For an apple & almond flavour add 1 tea spoon almond essence to the mixture and put flaked almonds on the top before baking – but please label the cake as having nuts in for those having nut allergy. For an apple and cinnamon flavour add 1 tea spoon of ground cinnamon when sifting the flour.) Line a round cake tin with baking parchment and pour in mixture, bake for approx 40 minutes. Or put into muffin cases in a muffin tin and bake for about 20 minutes. 2. Soul Cake (all-singing recipe): for 18-24 small cakes 450g (1lb) Plain Flour 170g (6oz) Butter 170g (6oz) Caster Sugar 85g (3oz) Currants 3 Egg Yolks 1 tsp Ground Mixed Spice or Ground Allspice ½ tsp Ground Ginger Saffron [Optional] Pinch Salt Warm Milk Method Pre-heat oven to 180°C: 350°F: Gas 4. If you use the saffron, drop a few strands into a little warm water or milk and allow to stand for 10-15 minutes. In a large bowl, cream the softened butter, gradually adding the
sugar, beat until light and fluffy. Beat the egg yolks and add a little at a time whilst continuing to beat. Gradually fold in the sieved flour, spices and salt to the mixture. Stir in the currants, saffron mixture (if used) and enough warm milk to produce a soft dough. Divide into 18-24 pieces and shape into flat cakes, marking each with a cross. Place on a greased baking tray and bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden. Sing Soul Cake song while preparing Soul Cake Song A soul! a soul! a soul-cake! Please good Missus, a soul-cake! An apple, a pear, a plum or a cherry, Any good thing to make us all merry, One for Peter, two for Paul, Three for Him who made us all. 3. Greg’ Dorset Apple Cake (with acknowledgements to BBC on-line s http://www.bbc.co.uk/dorset/content/articles/2006/10/25/apple_cake_feature.shtml ) 7oz/225g Self raising Flour + one teaspoon of baking powder 1oz/25g Cornflour 4oz/110g Butter 40z/110g Golden Caster Sugar 1/2lb / 225g Cooking Apples (peeled, cored and diced) 1 Lemon (zest) 1 Large egg and 1 tablespoon milk 2 oz / 50 sultanas (optional) To Finish: 1 x Large Cooking Apple, Fresh Lemon Juice and Soft Brown Sugar Method Grease and line an 8 (inch) round cake tin. Pre Heat Oven - Gas Mark 5, 190C/375F Sift flour, cornflour and baking powder into a mixing bowl. Cut the butter into small pieces. Rub into the flour until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar, prepared apples, lemon zest and sultanas. Bind together with the egg and milk. Turn into the prepared baking tin, level the surface. To decorate the cake: Cut segments from an unpeeled apple, soaked in lemon juice. Cut into thin slices and soak again. Arrange in a circle around top of the cake and dust with soft brown sugar to make a crusty glaze.
Bake in an oven for 30-40 minutes. Cool in the tin, before turning out onto a cooling wire. 4. For a lighter cake, try a Bath Bramley Apple Sponge Cake: see http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/bathbramleyapplecake_66.shtml