Name: One-bowl apple cake
Prep time: 12 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 72 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 2 free-range eggs; ¾ cup caster sugar; 1 Tbsp rum; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1 tsp mixed spice; 1 cup plain flour, sifted; 1 tsp baking powder; ¼ tsp sea-salt flakes; 125g unsalted butter, melted; 4 Granny Smith apples, peeled and cut into 1.5cm cubes; Dehydrated apple slices, to serve; Cream cheese rum icing; 80g butter, at room temperature; ¼ cup brown sugar; 1 Tbsp rum; 1 Tbsp maple syrup; 150g cream cheese, at room temperature

This French version of apple cake is flavoured with rum and is simple to whip up for your next adults-only dinner party.

Ingredients

2 free-range eggs

¾ cup caster sugar

1 Tbsp rum

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp mixed spice

1 cup plain flour, sifted

1 tsp baking powder

¼ tsp sea-salt flakes

125g unsalted butter, melted

4 Granny Smith apples, peeled and cut into 1.5cm cubes

Dehydrated apple slices, to serve

Cream cheese rum icing

80g butter, at room temperature

¼ cup brown sugar

1 Tbsp rum

1 Tbsp maple syrup

150g cream cheese, at room temperature

Method

Preheat oven to 160°C fan-forced (180°C conventional). Line a 20cm springform cake tin with baking paper.

In a large bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, rum and vanilla until frothy. Add mixed spice, flour, baking powder and salt and whisk until combined. Fold in melted butter and apple until just combined.

Transfer mixture to prepared tin, smooth top with a spatula and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into centre comes out clean. Cool cake for 10 minutes, then remove from tin.

To make icing, put butter, brown sugar, maple syrup and rum in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy (see Cook’s tip, below). Add cream cheese, in 3 batches, and continue to beat for a further 1-2 minutes or until smooth and thick. Chill until ready to use.

When cake is completely cool, transfer to a platter. Top with swirls of cream cheese rum icing and dehydrated apple slices.

Cook’s tip

Before adding the cream cheese to the icing it will look slightly like it’s split. However, once you beat in the cream cheese, the mixture will come together to form a beautiful silky icing.