Claddagh ring blog - Irish Recipes
IRISH APPLE CAKE
INGREDIENTS:
225g/8 oz/2 cups of self-raising flour
1 and a half tsp baking powder
150g/5 oz/half a cup margarine/butter, softened
150g/5 oz/three quarters cup caster sugar or superfine sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
1 tsp vanilla essence/extract
2 large eggs, beaten
1.1 kg/2 and a half pounds/tart cooking apples such as Bramley, peeled, cored and sliced
1 tbsp lemon juice
Half a tsp ground cinnamon
Fresh custard sauce or cream to serve
1: Preheat the over to 170oC/325oF/Gas Mark 3, 10 minutes before baking. Lightly oil and line the base of a 20.5cm/8inch deep cake tine with non-stick baking parchment. Sift the flour and baking into a small bowl.
2: Beat the margarine/butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs a little at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the flour.
3: Spoon about one-third of the mixture into the tin, smoothing the surface. Toss the apple slices in the lemon juice and cinnamon and spoon over the cake mixture, making a thick even layer. Spread the remaining mixture over the apple layer to the edge of the tin, making sure the apples are covered. Smooth the top with the back of a wet spoon and sprinkle with sugar.
4: Bake in a preheated oven for 1 and a half hours, or until the cake is well risen and golden, the apples are tender and the centre of the cake springs back when pressed lightly. (Reduce the oven temperature slightly and cover the cake loosely with foil if the top browns too quickly.)
5: Transfer to a wire rack and cool for about 20 minutes in the tin. Run a thin knife blade between the cake and the tin to loosen the cake and invert on to a paper-lined rack. Turn the cake the right way up and cool. Serve with the custard sauce or cream.
Did you know, County Armagh, in Northern Ireland is known as the 'Orchard County'. It produces 35 million apples annually. The Armagh Bramley apple is distinct from other Bramley apples for the reason of the temperate climate. The apples have a consistently firm, crisp texture and tart flavour. they retain their 'appley' flavour they don't become bland.
Apples are also known for helping to reduce cholesterol. Remember the saying "an apple a day keeps the doctor away".
An interesting fact, according to official records, the first Bramley apple seedlings were introduced to Armagh in 1884.
According to armaghbramley.com (Armagh Bramley Apple and Armagh Bramley Produce are world class items produced exclusively within the Protected Geographical area. It is like no other cooking apple in the world.)