Ramsay's Spiced Apple Cake

Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• 2 lbs cooking apples (about 5 or 6)
• 1/4 cup superfine sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter (plus extra to grease)
• 2 ripe braeburn apples
• 1 lemon, juice of
• 1 1/3 cups whole wheat flour
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg (fresh grated if possible)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 1/4 cup light olive oil
• 2 tablespoons apricot jam (to glaze)
• 1 -2 tablespoon water

Recipe

• 1 peel, core, and slice the cooking apples, then place in a wide pan with the sugar and butter. cook over high heat for 10 to 15 minutes until the apples have broken down to a pulp and an excess water has cooked off. transfer to a bowl and cool completely (you should have about 1 lb of puree).
• 2 heat the oven to 325°f line and lightly grease a 9-inch cake pan with a removable bottom. peel, core, and finely slice the braeburn apples, using a mandoline or sharp knife. place in a bowl and pour over most of the lemon juice and a splash of water, then set aside.
• 3 in a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar, and ground spices. make a well in the center and add the egg, olive oil, and apple puree. fold into dry ingredients until just combined.
• 4 transfer the mixture to the prepared cake pan and gently level the top with a spatula. bake the cake for 30 minutes until it feels just firm to the touch in the center.
• 5 working quickly, overlap the sliced apples in concentric circles on rop, leaving a margin around the edge. brush the slices with a little lemon juice and return to the oven for anoher 30 - 35 minutes until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean.
• 6 let the cake cool slightly before unmolding onto a rack. warm the apricot jelly with the water, stirring until smooth. brush over the top of the cake to glaze and serve warm.