A splendid almond apple cake made with Cornish apples, ground almonds and flavoured with cider. The top, covered with flaked almonds and demerara sugar, has a satisfying crunch to it.
This time last week, I was enjoying wonderful views of Falmouth harbour from my bedroom window. The skies were blue, I was with good friends and the kitchen table sported an almond apple cider cake. What could be more perfect than that? Read on for the recipe.
My friend Andy is not only a fan of crumbles, but also of apple cakes. When he invited us down to spend a few days with him in a holiday cottage in Falmouth, I knew immediately what sort of cake to bake and take with us. I’ve made many an apple cake in my time but I wanted to make something a bit different.
Casting my mind back, I remembered this lemon and almond cake, which stands out as one of the best cakes I’ve made. I used this recipe as my inspiration and came up with this splendiferous almond apple cider cake. Autumn is the very best time to make such a cake. Apples are literally falling from the trees and cider is in full production.
Falmouth – One of Cornwall’s Gems
Falmouth was wonderful and we were very lucky with the weather. We wondered the cobbled streets, walked around the harbour and beaches and clambered up Jacob’s Ladder a number of times.
On our first full day, we enjoyed a morning coffee and stroll around Hotel Meudon’s lovely gardens and beach. This was followed by lunch at The Potager, a fabulous vegetarian cafe a few miles out of Falmouth.
We finished off the afternoon by visiting Glendurgan Gardens on the Helford river, where we managed to find our way both in and out of the maze, once again.
On our second day, we took a trip up the River Fal to Trelissick Gardens, another splendid National Trust garden in the area. I’d never taken a boat up the Fal before and I’m so glad I did last week. It’s just beautiful.
We ate rather a lot too. It’s got to be done when you’re out and about. We were only in Falmouth three nights, but it felt like a real holiday.
Vegetarian and Vegan Eating in Falmouth
My friend Angela, who was also hosting us, is a fellow vegetarian. I knew Falmouth would not let us down when it came to eating out and indeed it had plenty to offer us. We found vegetarian cafes, vegan restaurants and good vegetarian options in a number of other eateries. Put it like this, we did not starve.
Oh! And there was a very nice almond apple cider cake too. It was much appreciated by all. Even Angela, who doesn’t eat cakes, had a slice and finished it. She declared it better than any cake found in a cafe. Given that she doesn’t eat cake, I’m not quite sure how she knows this, but I’m happy to take the compliment.
Other Apple Cake Recipes You Might Like
- Apple cake via Planet Veggie
- Dorset apple cake with chocolate caramel via Tin and Thyme
- Apple cardamom cake with quince frosting via Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary
- Easy apple cake via Maison Cupcake
- Apple crumble & custard mini cakes via Tin and Thyme
- Honey apple cardamom mini bundt cakes via Tin and Thyme
- Apple Sharlotka cake via Little Sunny Kitchen
- Little apple cupcakes via Family Friends Food
- Apple hazelnut choc chip cake via Tin and Thyme
- Oaty apple traybake (vegan) via The Veg Space
- Apple rose white chocolate cake via Tin and Thyme
- Spiced toffee apple bonfire cakes via Tin and Thyme
Keep in Touch
Thanks for visiting Tin and Thyme. If you make this almond apple cider cake, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. And do please rate the recipe. Have you any top tips? Do share photos on social media too and use the hashtag #tinandthyme, so I can spot them.
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If you’d like more large cake recipes, follow the link and you’ll find I have quite a lot of them. All delicious, of course.
Choclette x
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Almond Apple Cider Cake – The Recipe
Almond Apple Cider Cake
Ingredients
- 250 g unsalted butter
- 225 g golden caster sugar I used cardamom sugar
- 3 large eggs I used duck eggs
- 100 g wholemeal flour I used wholemeal spelt
- 100 g plain flour (all purpose flour)
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
- 75 g ground almonds I grind them as needed for freshness & texture
- 100 ml apple cider
- 3 medium sized cooking apples 400g – peeled, cored and diced
- 25 g flaked almonds
- 2 tbsp demerara sugar
Instructions
- Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.250 g unsalted butter, 225 g golden caster sugar
- Beat in the eggs, one by one.3 large eggs
- Sift in the flours, baking powder and bicarb.100 g wholemeal flour, 100 g plain flour (all purpose flour), 2 tsp baking powder, ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
- Add the apples and cider followed by the ground almonds and stir until just combined.100 ml apple cider, 3 medium sized cooking apples, 75 g ground almonds
- Scrape into a 23 cm (9") round silicone cake mould or lined tin.
- Scatter the flaked almonds over the top, followed by the demerara sugar.25 g flaked almonds, 2 tbsp demerara sugar
- Bake at 180℃ (160℃ fan, 350℉, Gas 4) for about 40 minutes or until the cake is well risen, golden on the top and an inserted cake skewer comes out mostly clean.
Notes
Nutrition Estimate
Link-ups
I’m sending my almond apple cider cake off to Casa Costello for Bake of the Week.
Pretty much everything except the sugar and the eggs in this cake is organic and the eggs are properly free range. It’s #OrganicSeptember after all.
Christina | Christina's Cucina says
If I wasn’t going out this morning, I’d be baking this cake! OMG, it looks wonderful!!! My godson went to the School of Mines nearby, but I still have to visit the area! Looks lovely!
Choclette says
Oh did he Christina? I hope he fell in love with Cornwall. It really is a beautiful place. What path did he take after leaving?
Jill - Mad about Macarons says
Oh my goodness! I’m all apple just now but you had me at cider! My eldest daughter has not long discovered this and I much prefer she drinks it via cake. What lovely photos of Falmouth – I’ve never been but it’s on my list! Thanks for the tour x
Choclette says
Thanks Jill. Hmmm, do you think it would work though? Falmouth is a great place, but so is most of Cornwall really 🙂
Kate - gluten free alchemist says
Apple cakes are so perfectly Autumnal Choclette and I should imagine the addition of the cider not only adds to the depth of flavour but also gives perfect moistness. Delicious!
Choclette says
Thanks Kate. Apple cake is hard to resist at this time of year and even more so with the cider which does just as you suggest 🙂
Helen at Casa Costello says
Hurrah to another baker that has changeable timings! I adore the sound of this cake – perfect for autumn afternoons cozied up with a brew and a good book! Thanks once again for joining in with #BakeoftheWeek Great to have you back x
Choclette says
Thanks Helen. I never meant to go away, I’m just not good at remembering everything!
Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours says
that sounds a wonderful cake! Love the crunch on the top.
Choclette says
The crunch on the top might just be the best bit 🙂
Sus // roughmeasures.com says
Cider, in a cake… yes please! I am envious of your trip to Falmouth, I have been longing to go for a while!
Choclette says
You’d like it Sus. Plenty happening, both nightlife and on the vegan / veggie food front.
kellie@foodtoglow says
Falmouth sounds like a veggie paradise! And your cake – it sounds mighty delicious and the perfect autumn cake. I saw it on Facebook and immediately wanted to know more!
Choclette says
Thanks Kellie. Vegetarian food is still quite hit and miss, but it’s definitely been getting a lot better down here over the last few years. Falmouth is a student town, so I’m guessing that’s why it’s so good.
Johanna @ Green Gourmet Giraffe says
mmm apple cakes are delicious and esp in autumn when apples are at their best – I would invite you over with this apple cake – sounds like the perfect gift for your hostess.
Choclette says
Hehe, thanks Johanna. Sadly the hostess in this instance isn’t usually won over by cake. The host was however 😉
Beth Sachs says
I haven’t been down to Falmouth for too long. Must make an effort now the season is over. A lovely looking cake too!
Choclette says
Thanks very much Beth. There’s actually a surprising amount to see in Cornwall. I haven’t been up Bude way in far too long either.
Kirsty Hijacked By Twins says
Falmouth looks like a fantastic place to visit. I went as a child but cannot remember. However we are planning a holiday down there next year so it will go on our list! The cake looks and sounds delicious x #BakeoftheWeek
Choclette says
I am perhaps a little biased, but Cornwall is a great place to come on holiday. There’s much to do for kids and adults and the food has hugely improved over recent years.
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
Falmouth looks wonderful, so does this apple cider cake!
Choclette says
Thanks Angie, both were completely delightful 🙂
Henk says
I can imagine this to be a delicous cake ! One to put on the ever growing list of things to try. Apparently you were full of cider when writing down the list of ingredients, unless ‘bicarbonate of cider’ is just another type of baking powder that I haven’t heard of previously …. 😉
Nice to read about the lovely days you spent with your friends in Cornwall !
Choclette says
Yes, cider all the way Henk 😉 Thanks for pointing it out. It really is a good cake. The trouble is, I mostly, though not always, think my latest bake is the best ever!
Queti Knight says
Love the bicarbonate of cider!!!! 😀 Please don’t change it!
Choclette says
Hahaha, I think it’s fairly obvious what I had on the brain. Thanks ever so much for pointing it out to me. I understand the sentiment, but I really did have to change it 🙂
Janice says
What a beautiful cake, I love that timings are approximate – so true. Falmouth looking particularly fabulous too.
Choclette says
Thanks Janice. I think my oven is possibly hotter than it should be and all of them vary too. Also preparation is dependent on so many things. Always seems to take me heaps longer than recipes state.