Monday, September 13, 2010

Apple Butter Cake With Cream Caramel Sauce


There are a couple of good ol' fashion cakes that will never cease on charm and tradition amongst home bakers. Apple butter cake is simply one of them. I don't think anyone who has taken a strong keenness in home baking has not attempted an apple butter cake in his or her baking lifetime, unless of course if you've just only started out in baking. Don't worry, you too will for sure make an apple butter cake someday.
I have a funny relationship with apples. I love the smell of apples when holding one close to my nose. And I like hearing the crunch when someone bites into it. But despite these and its glossy luscious red or fresh vibrant green look, if I could liken eating an apple to a day in a life, it would be an unmistakeably dull, unlikeable day. Somewhat like a much anticipated weekend day at home which turned out unexpectedly unenjoyable, dry and dreadfully slow. One with no phone calls, no messages, no great programs on TV, no pleasant visitors, no sale in the mall, no flowers blooming in the garden, an empty gas tank in the kitchen stove, no eggs in the refrigerator and a visit by the m.i.l. You get the picture.
Apples could be THE most boring fruit to munch on, according to me, for me! But since there is always going to be a better tomorrow (as long as 2012 hasn't arrived! seen the movie?), there's still a hope. If I could pick one out of all types of apples to at least stand out slightly successfully in tackling my munch, it would be the South African variety. It has a nice crunch to it and is sweet, and usually my interest munching it will last a tad bit longer than it usually does with apples before it starts to wane. Therefore, I hardly choose to eat apples.

BUT, give me apples fried, cooked or baked, I'm all for it. In all its forms, commercial glory and varieties, I do appreciate the fact that apples exist! Being one of the most bountiful of fruits, a wide cooking option is available, from apple cake to apple tart to apple pie to apple sauce to apple strudel to all sorts of creative uses in meals. I can't disagree that it is one of the most marvelous fruits to be created, sowed and reaped from the face of this earth! According to Wikipedia, at least 55 million tonnes of apples were grown worldwide in 2005, with a market value of about USD$10 billion. Given 5 years on and with overpopulation, I'm sure cultivation and harvesting have since increased!

To me, apple cake exudes a feeling evocative of old rustic farmhouse and village charm. I guess I must've gotten this from reading the many blogs that associate apples with autumn pickings, an activity often away from the cities. Thinking of this, I think I would really favor living on a farm. But not in Malaysia though! Anyway, enough rumblings and as you would probably know by now, I simply adore recipes from the Australian Women's Weekly. This apple cake recipe is another awesome one from AWW following the one below on Tiramisu roulade. Topped with cream caramel sauce, this is a winning apple cake recipe!

Recipe:
2 -3 medium green apples
80g butter
3/4 cup (165 g) firmly packed brown sugar
125 g butter, softened, extra
2/3 cup (150 g) caster sugar (I used only 1/2 cup)
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 cup (150 g) self-raising flour
2/3 cup (100 g) plain flour
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 cup (250 ml) buttermilk
3/4 cup (180 ml) cream

1. Preheat oven to 180 deg C or 160 deg C with fan-forced. Grease 20cm baking pan.
2. Peel, core and quarter apples; slice thinly. Melt butter in large frying pan; cook apple about 5 minutes or until browned lightly. Add brown sugar; cook, stirring, about 5 minutes or until mixture thickens slightly. Strain apples over medium bowl. Reserve apples and cooking liquid.
3. Beat extra butter, caster sugar and extract in small bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until just combined between additions; transfer to a large bowl. Stir in sifted dry ingredients and buttermilk, in two batches.
4. Spread two-thirds of the mixture into pan. Top with apples, leaving a 2 cm border around the edge; cover with remaining mixture. (In addition to the pre-cooked apples, I added some chopped fresh green apples into the cake batter as well). Bake about 50 minutes. Stand cake 5 minutes; turn, to-side up, onto wire rack to cool.
5. Meanwhile, return reserved apple liquid to frying pan, add cream; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, about 15 minutes or until sauce thickens (I didn't have anymore cream left so I omitted it, thus my sauce does not look creamy/milky thick).
6. Serve warm cake with caramel sauce.

Click for my previous post on Apple Fritters

Happy baking & best wishes!

21 comments:

  1. I don't mind a slice of your apple cake for tea! Great with the sauce!

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  2. Tea time now! I want a large slice of your apple cake!

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  3. Apple cakes are one of my favorites, it looks so delicious with that sauce, and the texture looks moist and beautiful.
    *kisses* HH

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  4. your cake looks rustic and delectable, and love the sauce drizzled over it too :)~

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  5. I can see how moist is this apple cake. Caramel sauce must be delicious as well.

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  6. So lovely to see you bake again! Hope I can have a few slices too. Willing to share..... FEDex over huh! haha.... Enjoy your evening, dear.
    Cheers, Kristy

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  7. I love apple cake. Would like to have a bigger slice.

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  8. ahh I haven't baked with apples in awhile! Yours looks so moist and yummy!

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  9. I like apples too and your cake makes me drool!! And the additional of caramel sauce... just heaven!

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  10. I could eat this right off your page! It looks delicious

    Laura, HappyHomemakerUK.blogspot.com

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  11. It looks so moist. I have yet to use apple in baking. It is now in my "To Do" list. :)

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  12. Beautiful apple cake. Love to see all the apple pieces there.

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  13. The apples in the butter cake surely made it very moist and flavorful! With the caramel sauce is an extra bonus, yum! ;) Hope you will have a much much better day from now on...*hugs* ;)

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  14. Wow, your apple cake looks delicious...moist and rich in flavors...

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  15. Strangely, I am not a big fan of apples too. Now I make apple part of my smoothie, if not I hardly eat them :O...

    Some apple butter cake would be good too :) ...can I?

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  16. This apple cake sounds so amazing especially with the cream caramel sauce, yum!

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  17. any left for me? your apple cake sound so delicious and tempting.

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  18. Joslynn, you're right! Apple picking was something I used to have in the fall when I was still in the U.S. I love a balance between rural and urban life. Sometimes when I think back, I still believe that a long period of living in the country is a bit ... hmmm ... colorless. Get what I mean? A balance of everything is the best! =)

    I love any apple-ish bakes! If you happen to see some Golden Delicious (variety), grab them! They're delish variety! So far, I've only seen them at Tesco.

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