Apple cake & cinnamon sugar

It supposed to be almost summer, but the weather can't seem to make it's mind! It's rainy and cold again. So make yourself a nice apple pie, and have some with a warm cup of tea. I know, sounds like something you would wanna do in the autumn. But at the moment I'm under my soft fleece blanket having a cup of tea. This apple cake went for a birthday, so this time I didn't get a piece. This is starting to become a staple order from me now, everybody seems to like it a lot!

 I think apple pie definitely has to have cinnamon in it. It's just a perfect combination with apples. Some like to add marzipan or almond flakes too, which is nice as well. But I usually only like marzipan if it is home made, as you can adjust the almond extract flavour, I don't like it very strong. 

I used Elstar apples this time, and heard comments that they tasted better than previous apples I've used. So I recommend those, or something more sour, like Granny smith.

This must be the easiest apple pie ever to make, but sometimes the most simple no fuss recipes are the best ones. This makes a really nice soft and moist cake, and it stays good for quite a while too, just kept in room temperature, lightly covered with clingfilm. 

I have noticed most recipes don't state if the butter is salted or non-salted. I like to use salted butter what ever I bake, because the salt actually brings out all the flavours out more. I think it's a little secret for making very nice cakes, or anything sweet really. They add sugar to most savory, salty foods, so it works the other way round too!

Apple cake

85g salted butter, at room temperature
190g flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
175g caster sugar
1 egg
120 ml milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
2-3 apples

For topping
25g sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 175C. Beat the butter and sugar light and fluffy, this takes around 2-3 minutes with an electric hand mixer.
Add egg, milk and vanilla, and mix so that everything is just combined. Don't worry if the mixture looks curdled, it will be fine as you add rest of the ingredients.
Combine all the dry ingredients, and sieve into the mixture, and mix to combine.
Pour into a greased pie tin or springform tin. Slice the apples and assemble on the cake.
Combine the sugar and cinnamon, and sprinkle over the cake.
Bake 10 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 160C, and bake around 45-50 minutes, or until knife comes out clean as you test the cake.