Spiced apple sponge
As long as there are apples in the fruit bowl or fridge, you'll always have the makings of a dessert.
There's apple crumble, apple sponge, apple dumplings, apple pie, baked stuffed apples, apple cobbler, Dutch apple cake.
If you have some time on your side, a French apple tart with artistically arranged apple slices is always eye-catching.
Depending on the dessert you are making, you may want to use apples that fluff up when they are cooked, or ones that retain their shape, sweet ones or tart ones.
Ingredients:
For the fruit base
- 800g apples
- 2 cloves
- 100g caster sugar
- Grated zest of 1 lemon
- ¼ cup water
For the sponge
- 30g soft butter
- 125g golden syrup
- 2 eggs, well beaten
- 150g self-raising flour
- 1 tsp each ground ginger, mixed spice, cinnamon
- Pinch salt
Method:
- Peel and slice the apples and place in a pot with the cloves, caster sugar, lemon zest and water.
- Simmer until the apple softens, stirring to ensure it doesn't burn. Keep hot.
- For the sponge, place the golden syrup in a glass mixing bowl and warm it briefly in the microwave so it thins down a little – about 15 seconds will do. Don't let it get hot.
- Cream the butter and golden syrup then add the beaten eggs and mix until well combined.
- Stir in the sifted flour and spices and the salt.
- Place the hot apples in a pie dish and spoon over the sponge mix.
- Bake in a pre-heated 180C oven for 35 minutes.
- Serve with whipped cream, ice cream or thick yoghurt.
Written by Pat Churchill. First appeared on Stuff.co.nz.
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