Apple & Ginger Cake

 
Todd was wanting some cake, but of course my oven isn't working reliably at the moment, so I was in a bit of a quandary as to what to do.  I don't really like store bought cakes very much.  They are always dry in comparison to homemade.  Yes, we are very spoilt!  Then I remembered my bread machine and I remembered seeing some recipes in it's manual for baking cakes.  You can also make jam in it and fruit compotes, although I never have. 
  
My bread machine is the Panasonic Automatic Bread maker, Model No. SD-2501
  
I figured I didn't have anything to lose and so I picked the Apple & Ginger recipe, which sounded really good.  I also had everything I needed to make it . . .
  
Golden syrup, Granny Smith apples, preserved ginger  . . .
  
Cloves, cinnamon  . . .
 
Todd adores anything with cloves and ginger and cinnamon and apples . . .  they are his favorite things to eat!  I was pretty certain he would love this cake.
 
It was actually very easy to put together . . .

It make the house smell all gorgeous while it was baking! Just like "Home Sweet Home!"
 
Todd was out when I started it and as soon as he came in, he said, oh boy something smells good!  that's always a really positive sign! 
 
It has  a beautiful texture.  Its a bit sturdier than a normal cake . . .   I would say more like a tea loaf. 
  
Lovely flavours with the cinnamon and cloves  . . .  and those bits of preserved ginger.  I adore preserved ginger!
 
It is well studded throughout the loaf  . . .
 
The Demerara sugar on top gives it a lovely crunch! (This is Turbinado sugar in North America)
  
This is the perfect cake to sit down and enjoy a nice hot cuppa with!

Apple & Ginger Cake

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With ImageWithout ImageYield: Makes 1 loaf
Author: Marie RaynerA moist apple cake filled with lots of flavor.  This bakes in the bread machine, although I am very sure you could also bake it in a regular loaf tin.

ingredients:

• 120g butter (1/2 cup)
• 200g golden syrup (2/3 cup)
• 300g self raising flour (2 cups plus 3 TBS)
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 2 medium free range eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 granny smith apples, peeled and grated
• 4 knobs preserved Stem ginger, drained and finely chopped
• 1 1/2 TBS Demerara sugar

instructions:

How to cook Apple & Ginger Cake

1. Heat the butter and golden syrup together to melt the butter.  Let stand for a few minutes to cool a bit.
2. Sift the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and cloves into a bowl. Add the syrup mixture and the beaten eggs.  Stir to combine well. Stir in the grated apple and the chopped ginger.
3. Remove the kneading blade from the bread pan (bread machine) and line the pan with baking parchment, bottom and sides.
4. Spoon the batter into the pan, taking care to keep it inside the baking paper.  Sprinkle the Demerara sugar carefully over top.
5. Select Menu 15  on your bread machine (my model is SD-2501)  or 14 (SD-2500) and enter 1 hour 5 minutes on the timer.
6. At the end of that time when the bread machine beeps, test with a skewer to make sure it is cooked.  if it isn't done, then select 15 again and cook for a further 5 minutes or so. If it is still slightly sticky this will cook through during the stand period.
7. Using an oven glove, remove the pan from the bread machine and let stand for 5 to 10 minutes before tipping out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

NOTES:

If you don' t have a bread machine, you can still bake this in a normal loaf tin. Use a medium loaf tin, line with baking paper and bake at 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4 for 50 to 60 minutes.

Created using The Recipes Generator
 
One thing for sure, not having a working oven is inspiring me to step outside my comfort zone and try some new things I had not considered before!  Don't worry if you are not the owner of a bread machine.  You can still bake this delicious cake in a regular loaf tin and oven!!