Apple and Almond Cake

A big hit with my 3 year old and grown ups, this is a cake which is equally at home with custard as pudding and as a cake.

The basic mix is based on a victoria sponge (so not sugar free) but by adding apples into the mix, this pads out the cake meaning you get something which feels special without needing layers of sugary icing or jam so still a treat but perhaps a less guilty one.

This makes one shallow cake, which I think is the best kind to have with custard or cream.

Apple and almond cake - makes one cake

Ingredients

110g, 4oz Margarine (it blends better than butter for cakes and is less greasy)
110g, 4oz Sugar (I used a mixture of white and dark brown soft sugar)
2 Eggs
110g, 4oz Self raising flour (or plain / all purpose flour with 1 tsp baking powder)
1/2 tsp Almond extract
1 tsp Baking powder
1 tbsp Milk
175g, 6oz Dessert apples (peeled and cored weight, approx 2-3 depending on size)
A generous tbsp Flaked almonds

Method

Preheat the oven to 180oC.

Peel and core the apples cutting into rough chunks.  Grease and line a loose bottomed shallow cake tin.  Mine is approx 17cm, 7 inches diameter.

Cream the margarine and sugar together using electric beaters and add the almond extract.

Add the eggs and whisk followed by the flour, baking powder and finally the milk.

Mix the apple chunks in carefully and turn into the prepared dish.  Smooth out and sprinkle flaked almonds on top.

Bake for approx 30 minutes or until cooked through push out and cool on a wire rack.  Serve still warm as pudding with custard or cream or cold as a cake.

The apple still has some texture which I quite liked.  I've not tried it, but if you want it to be softer, try using cooking apples or cutting the apples smaller.

My son had an individual game pie with carrots and peas followed by this for pudding.  He eats well for a three year old!

Warning:  Officially whole nuts are not recommended until kids are fairly old because of the choking risk (although the risk with flaked almonds is likely to be much lower).  As I've done I urge you to ensure you are with your child when they are eating this to ensure they don't choke and if you have any doubts, don't feed it to them.

Make it Thrifty

If you don't have almond extract, miss it out or substitute it for vanilla extract.