Sugar and Spice Apple Cake

Since I'm really enjoying creating these baking posts on my relaxed Sundays, I thought I'd do yet another. This cake generally tasted like Christmas in a slice - I think I have a serious obsession with cinnamon at the moment!

So what you'll need for this scrummy apple cake is...
- 240g self raising flour
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp allspice
- 170g butter cubes, room temperature
- 245g brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 450g applesauce

The method...
1) Set the oven to gas mark 3 and line two cake tins.
2) Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder and spices together in a bowl.
3) In another bowl, beat the butter and sugar until creamy.
4) Add the eggs to the butter and beat until combined.
5) Add the dry ingredients and applesauce in alterations to the wet mixture.
6) Divide the batter between the two tines and bake for 45-55 minutes.
7) Test that they're done by poking a cocktail stick into the cake, and if it comes back clean then the cake is done. Another way that you can test to see if it's cooked is by pressing your finger into the top, and if it bounces back then it's done.
8) Allow the cakes to cool in their tins for 20 minutes and then remove.

I hope you enjoyed this autumnal recipe, stay around for more recipes in the future! :) 

Becky x

Spider Web Halloween Cupcakes

Since Halloween is only a few days away I thought it'd be appropriate to do a post inspired by the day. This recipe was inspired by a few different cake decorations and styles I saw on Pinterest which I combined together.  

For the cake you'll need...

- 175g Self Raising Flour

- 175g Sugar

- 175g Butter (at room temperature)

- 3 Eggs

- Orange Food Colouring

- Vanilla Extract or Orange Flavouring

- 25g Cocoa Powder

- Splash of Milk

For the topping you'll need...

- Chocolate

- 100g Butter

- 200g Icing Sugar

- Orange Food Colouring

- Vanilla Extract

Method

1) Melt the chocolate, put into an icing bag with a small hole in the end, and on top of a lined baking tray, draw out spider webs. Pop the spider webs into the fridge to set whilst you make the cakes. 

2) Preheat the oven to gas mark 5. Prepare the cake tins.

3) Beat together the butter and sugar in a bowl, then whisk the eggs and add to the mixture bit by bit.

4) Sift the flour and add to the wet mixture. 

5) Split the mixture between two bowls. 

6) Add orange food colouring and vanilla extract to one bowl and combine. 

7) Sift the cocoa powder into the other bowl and add a splash of milk (about 1-2 tbsp) and combine.

8) Share the orange cake mixture between the cake cases so that they're all about 1/3 full. 

9) Fill up the remaining 1/3 of each case with the chocolate mixture.

10) Place in the oven for about 12-15 minutes until they ounce back when you press them with your ring finger, or when a toothpick is put into one and it comes out clean. 

11) Remove the cupcakes from the baking tray and allow to cool down on a cooling rack. 

12) Once they've cooled down, begin to make the frosting by whipping together the butter, icing sugar, vanilla extract and orange food colouring.

14) Put the frosting into a piping bag and decorate the cakes however you'd like.

15) I finished mine off by getting the chocolate webs I made earlier and popped them into the top of the frosting. 

I filled mine a bit too full here, so I'd recommend putting less into the cases. 

I hope you enjoyed this Halloween post, stay around for more in the future! :) 

Becky x