Monday 20 October 2014

Apple Apricot Cake


Last month I stocked up on apples to support the LTU Apple event. But I only managed one submission which was Apple Cinnamon Cheesecake. Before the month ended, I was struck with dengue and my plans for the apples went out the window. Luckily, these green apples keep very well.



I had to bake something using these apples before they went bad. That's when I remembered this Apple Apricot Cake. Previously, I used this recipe and adapted it to bake Banana Apricot Cake. I have never baked a cake with apples before (except the cheesecake).


The apricots used in this recipe are dried apricots. From my previous experience, I knew that it would be best to cut the dried apricots into smaller pieces. I also followed the recipe and boiled the apricots with orange juice instead of just soaking them like I did the last time. The recipe did not say to boil for how long and I reckon 5-10 minutes should suffice. The orange juice turned very thick and syrupy and tasted very nice. Unfortunately, there was a change of plans and I could not bake the cake that day. So I kept the boiled apricots in the fridge.


The next morning, I noted that the apricot mixture turned even thicker. I tasted a piece and it was very nice. The dried apricot had tuned softer and was infused with orange flavour. What I like about this recipe is that it is very straightforward. And not only that, it uses 250g of butter and 5 eggs. Yes, my kinda cake. Lot of butter and lots of eggs hee..hee..


The apples are grated and mixed into the batter. And when the cake was baking, it smelled really, really good. When I tasted my first slice, I was very impressed with not only the taste, but the aroma. It smelt so good! The cake was studded with the orange infused apricots and they complemented the cake very well. But my folding was not even and some spots were crammed with apricots. I suppose raisins would also be good in this cake. The cake is moist and the crumbs are tender. But it was a bit crumbly too and I could not get nice clean slices. A very good bake and to be repeated since I still have a few more apples to spare :)









Apple Apricot Cake
Recipe source : Lovely Butter Cake (page 53)

Ingredients A :
- 250g butter
- 180g caster sugar (in future can be further reduced to 160g)
- 280g self-raising flour
- 5 eggs
- 250g green apples, peeled and grated into thick shreds

Ingredients B (boil and set to cool) :
- 150g dried apricots (I cut into small pieces)
- 90g fresh orange juice (I used juice from 2 oranges)
Note : I boiled for about 10 minutes. I reckon this step is to soften the dried apricots and to infuse them with orange flavour.

Method :
1. Beat butter and sugar till fluffy. Add eggs one at a time and mix well.
2. Add self-raising flour and green apples, mix well.
3. Add ingredients B and mix well.
4. Pour the mixture into greased baking mould sprinkled with flour. (I used a 10" bundt pan)
5. Bake in preheated oven at 175C for 55-60 minutes (I baked at 160C for 45 minutes)




This post is also linked to Cook-Your-Books #17 hosted by Joyce of Kitchen Flavours.

52 comments:

  1. Morning Phong Hong.. Today something different, apple apricot.. I like the name already.. I like apples.. Apricots? Only had those dried apricots from the packet or from the can, never had fresh ones before.. Ohh so you used dried apricots, nice and chewy I bet..I also like cakes with lots of butter and eggs, very "heong".. As always, your cake looks so fluffy and buttery.. Really something different this time, nice..

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    1. Hi Louiz! I really did not expect apples to be so good in cakes. The smell was really so fragrant. The apricots after boiling in orange juice become soft and have a nice taste. Goes well with the cake. I'm very happy with this bake but can further reduce the sugar as it is a bot sweet.

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  2. I love cake baked in bundt pan as it always turn out looking good and here you are....a lovely fruity bundt cake for a beautiful Monday morning!!

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    1. Thanks, Mel! I love the look of the cake too. Good to look at and nicer to eat :)

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  3. Replies
    1. Thanks, Lina! Would make a nice post-run snack :)

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  4. oh what a lovely cake to start off my week!! Apple and Apricot, the Double-A cake?? haha.. or if you have put in some Almonds, that would be a Triple -A, haha.. :)

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    1. SK, I was happy with the AA combination! Turned out tasty and can get A++ marks hee..hee.

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  5. looks so good, never thought of the combination but it sounds a good match and I can see the fluffiness and softness and richness of the cake - it's yelling to me: "yoohoo!! come eat me to beat your Monday blues, cos I'm golden orange in color!!!".. hehe!! and oh yes, I think raisins will be good to go inside too.. and perhaps walnut to go with the apricot and cinnamon to go with the apple?? haha, too many things huh?? gee~~ :p

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    1. SK, you suggestion on walnuts is workable. Can get a crunch to go with the soft moist cake. I might try that!

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  6. This looks good! Yes. I still have 3 green apples in fridge from last LTU and hope it's enought to make this cake.

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    1. Hi Amy! I used 3 apples and though it is slightly less than the amount in the recipe, it still turned out well.

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  7. That's a lovely bundt cake. I love apricot too, definitely add your recipe in my bake list :)

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    1. Thanks, Ann! This cake is lovely and I am sure you will love it as much as I did.

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  8. one mor recipe into my collection. adui...cham...dunno bila i will make this but now i see like very hungry leh......celup kopi kan sedap

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    1. Meow, this one very good with kopi. Quite an easy cake to make lah, Just have to be a bit rajin to grate the apples.

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  9. PH, this is pretty, looks yummy too!

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  10. Oh, my. This sounds wonderful!! I love that you used both apricots and apples :)

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    1. Thanks, Lizzy! It turned out to be a good combination.

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  11. From seeing my pathetic looking cake to seeing your proper looking one is such a bliss :D

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  12. very lovely bundt cake, looks extremely yummy!

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  13. I like any cake infused with orange flavour ;) Oh, I know what you can do with your leftover apples...make apple pancakes.....yum!

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    1. Apple pancakes sound like a great idea! I have not made pancakes before, so this will be a new addition to my to-do list :)

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  14. Hi Phong Hong, I like dried apricot too. Guess that some fruity apple & orange juice in this lovely bundt cake is yummy-licious!

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    1. Hi Karen! I loved the orange infused apricots. It went really well with the apples. This is a good cake!

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  15. Sighhhhhh!!!! Another cake. When will I ever get down to baking one?

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    1. Looks like Realgunners beat you to it hee..hee...

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  16. Hi Phong Hong, you are really good in baking cakes. All looks so good and tempting. My hubby is a heart patient.

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    1. Thank you, Kimmy! So paiseh hee..hee... Oh, so your hubby must not eat too much of this buttery cake. One slice should be alright :)

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    2. Phong Hong, the trouble is, he can't stop with just a slice. Do you know that he ate a 1/4 of my Mrs NgSK butter cake in one go? Ate some more the next day. He loves rich butter cakes.

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    3. Oh my! Can't blame him though because your cake is so ho chiak hah..hah... Yes, I guess you would be concerned if he eats too much rich food. Next time you reserve just one or two for him and the rest you send to your mother-in-law's house hee..hee...

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  17. This is one tender looking cake Phong Hong. I love granny smiths! I can just imagine the smell of this cake!

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    1. Hi Diana! I am now loving granny smiths. But only in cakes hah..hah..

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  18. I love the shape of this cake and it makes it more delicious! I can imagine how tasty it can be with the orange infused apricots pieces and grated apples in the cake. Yum Yum!

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    1. Hi Mun! Bundt cakes are lovely to look at and is a nice change from the usual round or square ones.

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  19. Hi Phong Hong,
    This is such a lovely fruity cake! I have never combine apples with apricots in a cake before. Your cake looks very moist, golden and delicious! I like simple cakes like this!
    Thanks for sharing with CYB!

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    1. Thank you, Joyce! I love this cake a lot. Now I know what to do with sour green apples :)

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  20. Replies
    1. Chris, it is soft and moist. Perfect with hot coffee!

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  21. Hi Phong Hong, this is so so good..... Already lau nuai lah... Thanks for sharing and regards :)

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    1. Hi Ivy! Go and buy some apples and bake!

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  22. Hi Phong Hong, that's a very beautiful cake. Great combination. You're getting very pro with cakes now. Keep up the good job. Nick click too.

    Have a nice day ahead,regards.

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    1. Thank you, Amelia for the sweet compliments! I am still improving and need to venture out into other bakes like breads and buns. You really did a great job with Ivy and she is now baking buns like nobody's business LOL!

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  23. Gosh! Looks like you can open a bakery shop now, Phong Hong! xoxo

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    1. Hi Shirley! hah..hah.. maybe..maybe...

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  24. Apples, and apricots sound like such a yummy pairing, and I do love that you made it in a bundt pan, which I have at least 3 kinds, and also mini bundt pans. Thanks for sharing, Phong Hong...Google + it to share! xo

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    1. Thank you, Elisabeth! You are so supportive of my baking endeavours :) I actually would prefer this cake with just apples but everyone seems to like the apricots.

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