Apple crumble cake

Sorry for the lack of posts - school, and all that inconvenience. Well, it was Alice's 18th so we had to celebrate with a cake... I chose this one as it is getting into Autumn and the perfect time for UK apples. Decoration was a challenge, (how do you decorate crumble?!?) but the caramelised apples were effective and extremely quick to make, though they can be omitted. As you can see from the ingredients, this is a pretty hefty cake, so would be good to serve a large party of people!

Apple crumble cake
Prep time: 2 hours
Serves: 16
Cooking temp: Gas 4, 160C
Cooking time: 45-55 minutes

Ingredients
120g butter
100g brown, granulated sugar
200g plain white flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
3 medium eggs
2 tsps. vanilla extract
Zest of a lemon and a squeeze of juice
6 apples
A sprinkle of cinnamon powder (optional)
For the crumble:
150g plain flour
125g butter
120g sugar
50g rolled porridge oats
For the caramelised apple
1 small apple (approx. 110g)
20g butter
25g caster sugar

Method

1. Mix the butter and sugar in a large bowl. Sift in the flour and baking powder. Mix to coarse crumbs.
   
   
    
2. In a smaller bowl, whisk the eggs, vanilla extract and lemon zest/juice. Add to the large bowl and stir, sprinkling in some cinnamon if you like.
   
3. Grease a 23-25cm square tin and preheat the oven to gas 4. Spread the batter over the base of the tin.
4. Peel and core the apples, and cut into 3cm chunks (or thereabouts). Cover the batter in apple.
   
    
5. Combine all the ingredients for the crumble in a clean bowl and run together to crumbs: you may have to add some more oats/sugar. Sprinkle over the top of the crumble, breaking it up into smaller pieces as you do.
   
6. Bake for 45-55 minutes. Leave to cool whilst you make the decoration...
7. Slice the apple (without peeling) into quarters and core. Cut each wedge into slices 3mm thick (you can eat the very smallest piece) so you have roughly 25-30 pieces.
   
8. Melt half the butter in a large frying pan (20cm diameter) and, when foaming, add half the sugar and mix. Quickly add half the apples and cook for 30 seconds on each side, then flip for a further 30 seconds. Remove to baking parchment and repeat with the rest of the butter, sugar and apples.
   
   
    
9. When the apple slices are cool enough to handle, arrange over the cake in a nice pattern.
   

   

   Who's already started eating it?!?

Happy Birthday Alice!
To celebrate your birthday, here's a little overview of making your card...

Just one of the applications of quilling!