Apple Cake

Ingredients

• 4eggs
• 200 gsugar
• 200 gself-rising flour, sifted
• 200 gbutter, melted and slightly cooled
• 1 tspvanilla extract
• 1 tspground cinnamon
• 3apples, 2 peeled and diced for batter; 1 thinly sliced for topping
• salt
• powdered sugar, for dusting when cooled

Method

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease a cake pan and line with baking paper.

2. 2

   In a large bowl, beat the eggs with the sugar until the mixture has tripled in volume and is pale and fluffy — about 4–5 minutes with an electric mixer on high, or 8–10 minutes by hand with a whisk. This trapped air is what makes the cake light.

3. 4

   Add the cinnamon, salt and vanilla extract. Fold in the diced apple until evenly distributed.

4. 5

   Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Arrange the thinly sliced apple on top and press lightly. Optionally sprinkle with almond shavings.

5. 6

   Bake for 45–50 minutes until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.

6. 7

   Cool in the tin for a few minutes, then remove and cool completely on a wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

7. 3

   Sift the flour over the egg mixture and fold it in gently with a spatula: cut down through the middle, sweep along the bottom of the bowl, and lift the batter over the top, turning the bowl a little each time. Then fold in the melted, slightly cooled butter the same way until just combined — stop as soon as no streaks remain.