Today, I have a very special apple, cinnamon and honey cake for you - a sticky, sweet, moist, moreish and comforting treat. And there's a story behind it with many threads, some recent, some ancient.
This month, some of my best blogging friends, Penny Alexander and Becky Goddard-Hill published a non-fiction children's book on a subject very close to my heart: happiness.
Create Your Own Happy is an illustrated, interactive activity book that empowers children to take practical steps towards their own happiness and positive self-esteem.
It's packed cover-to-cover with exercises that children can try for themselves, either independently or with friends, parents or even teachers. From planting a seed bomb outdoors, to making a happy playlist or building a recycling monster, there's something for every type of personality and learning style in this book. And what I love most is that each activity doesn't just include the idea and how to do it, but also explains why it works and suggests a series of further actions you might like to try.
Create Your Own Happy is aimed at children aged 7-11 and I think it caters for that age range really well. J (6) and JD (10) have both been exploring the book over the last few weeks and both have engaged well but differently. JD has been using it as a toolkit for when they need a boost in his mood, while J is using it to drive their creativity & revel in the things that bring her joy.
Page 152 of Create Your Own Happy challenges readers to learn about another culture by cooking up a feast in order to learn more about others, and foster a kind, inclusive outlook. This challenge is perfect for a foodie family like ours, it's something the whole family can do together, with plenty of opportunity for conversation and exploration and a yummy treat to enjoy.
As we sat at the table together after school last week, the children mulled over which culture they might like to explore, narrowing down to Japanese, Polish or Jewish.
After some research into the cuisines using Pinterest and Google, the kids' eyes widened at the sight of apple cakes, honey, braided bread (challah), fishcakes and other delicious treats, so we settled on making a cake inspired by Jewish culture. It seemed especially apt since the upcoming weekend happened to be Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year).
My father's side of the family is Jewish, and of all my childhood memories, going to visit my paternal grandparents is one of the strongest. Once a month or so, we'd pile in the car and arrive at their bungalow where we'd be fussed over, photographed to within an inch of our lives and fed to bursting point with fishcakes, fresh salad and slices of challah slathered in butter, followed by tinned fruit salad and Tip Top (remember Tip Top?)
As the night drew in and we grew weary of playing Lemonade on our grandfather's Apple Macintosh, we'd pile into my mum's Volvo estate and roll home, stuffed full and clutching a homemade apple cake.
So apple cake has a lot of meaning for me, and a connection to the Jewish side of my heritage, but why apple and honey cake? Well, it's traditional on Rosh Hashanah to enjoy eating apples dipped in honey to symbolise hope for a sweet new year, and many other apple and honey recipes are now enjoyed too.
Here's how we made it, chatting about Jewish culture as we baked.
Ingredients
For the cake
- 200g (7 oz) caster sugar
- 75g (2.6 oz) slightly salted butter, room temperature
- 3 medium free-range eggs
- 200g (7 oz) self-raising flour, sieved
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 3 eating apples, peeled, cored and chopped
- 1 eating apple, cored and sliced into thin wedges
- 1 tbsp honey
To finish
- 2 tbsp runny honey
Instructions
Preheat the oven 180C (160C fan, 350F). Cream the butter and sugar together.
Beat in the eggs.
Add the flour and cinnamon and beat again.
Fold in the chopped apples.
Line the loaf tin and fill with the batter then top with a row of the sliced apple.
Drizzle with 1 tbsp honey.
Bake for 60 minutes or until the centre is set.
Set aside to cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then skewer all over, avoiding the apple slices. Mix 2 tbsp honey and 1 tbsp hot water together and spoon all over the cake.
Allow to cool, then cut into slices and serve with a cup of tea. Don't expect it to last very long!
If you'd like to print this apple, cinnamon and honey cake recipe to try later, just hit PRINT on the recipe card below.
Apple and honey cake
Ingredients
For the cake
- 200 g (7.05 oz) caster sugar
- 75 g (2.65 oz) slightly salted butter or margarine, room temperature
- 3 medium free-range eggs
- 200 g (7.05 oz) self-raising flour sieved
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 3 eating apples peeled, cored and chopped
- 1 eating apple cored and sliced into thin wedges
- 1 tbsp runny honey
To finish
- 2 tbsp runny honey
Instructions
- Preheat the oven 180C (160C fan, 350F). Cream the butter and sugar together.
- Beat in the eggs.
- Add the flour and cinnamon and beat again.
- Fold in the chopped apples.
- Line the loaf tin and fill with the batter then top with a row of the sliced apple.
- Drizzle with 1 tbsp honey.
- Bake for 60 minutes or until the centre is set.
- Set aside to cool in the tin for 5 minutes.
- Skewer all over, avoiding the apple slices. Mix the 2 tbsp honey with 1 tbsp water together and spoon all over the cake.
- Cut into slices and serve with a cup of tea. Don't expect it to last very long.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
And don't forget to follow Create Your Own Happy on social media:
- Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cyohappy/
- Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CYOHappy/
- Twitter https://twitter.com/CYOHappy
You might also like to see what other bloggers have been trying out:
- Amanda at Ana Mum Diary and her girls made a happiness mix.
- Tom from Diary of the Dad and his boys made a laughter kit.
- Rebecca from Here Come the Girls and her twins made a happy jar.
- Catherine at Growing Family and her daughter made seed bombs.
- Colette from We're Going on an Adventure and her daughter practised learning to relax.
- Penny from Penny Reads and her daughter reflected on gratitude and saying thank you.
- Maggy from Red Ted Art shared some upcycling craft ideas.
- Emma from Emma and 3 and her daughter became Happiness Philosophers.
- Emma at Science Sparks has been showing us how to invent a solution.
- Sarah and her family have shared how to create your own happy mail.
- Cerys from Rainy Day Mum talks about how to reduce, reuse and recycle.
Do you have any special bakes that remind you of your childhood?
Pin this apple and honey cake
More apple recipes to try
Get Your Kids to Eat Anything
My debut cookbook, Get Your Kids To Eat Anything is available now from all good bookshops!
It's so much more than a cookbook, it's a 5-Phase programme designed to take you through a meaningful, simple and sustainable journey to end fussy eating.
Since its release in March 2019, Get Your Kids To Eat Anything has been changing mealtimes in households across the country and has become an Amazon #1 best-seller.
Stephen says
Delicious. We wanted a bit more spice - added 1/2 tsp allspice. Next time will add 1 tsp. When testing, make sure skewer goes in at angle to get to middle of cake, ours was a little under done in centre. Will certainly make again
Joanna says
I like the idea of this Happy journal and how it creates challenges but you still need to decide on the details. It definitely boosts children's imagination. The cake that resulted after the feast activity sounds so yummy.
Emily Leary says
It's really lovely, isn't it?
Rachel says
Although I'm not a huge fan of cinnamon, this sounds absolutely devine. It's like Christmas in a cake! xo
Emily Leary says
Heh, not really Christmassy but definitely yummy :)
Kirsty says
I love the inspiration from this dish was inspired by your kids journey with the book which I think sounds fantastic and would be soemthing that even adults could use to help them in life. The cake sounds perfect for the cooler nights that are drawing in.
Emily Leary says
Thank you! Yes, it's a really great book and we're having a lovely time working through it.
Eva Katona says
Oh yumm this is now perfect for the Apple season!
Emily Leary says
Absolutely and one slice is just never enough!
Hannah says
This looks very tasty. I will have to try this
Emily Leary says
I love this cake and it was wolfed down very quickly in my house. Time to make another!
Kara says
We are loving the CYOHappy book and I love how you have linked it to food and memories
Emily Leary says
Yes, Penny and Becky's book is lovely and the kids really enjoyed helping to make the cake and learning more about my childhood memories :)
Linda Hobbis says
I've been looking for a recipe that uses sliced apples on the top of the cake for ages! Thank you. My mum used to cook one a bit like this every bonfire night (this was in the late 70s). She can't recall it now but we certainly cake. Bookmarked!
Emily Leary says
Great! This recipe brought back so many childhood memories which my kids loved hearing about! Enjoy!
Leah Lander-Shafik says
I love the look of the cake and love your step by step photo's., Apples, Cinnamon, Autumn, what's not to love! the Create your own happy book is also one I might pick up for a Christmas Gift.
Emily Leary says
Thank you so much! Create Your Own Happy would make a really lovely Christmas gift!
Debbie says
This looks amazing and the book is on my Christmas list too.
Emily Leary says
Thank you! My kids and I loved making this delicious cake and they enjoyed hearing about some more of my childhood memories! Create Your Own Happy is a really lovely book and would make a fab Christmas present!
Kate says
That cake looks delicious. So nice for you to explore Jewish culture with your little ones and reminisce about your own childhood.
Create Your Happy sounds like an amazing book!
Emily Leary says
Thank you! It was a great opportunity to make a similar cake to the one my grandmother used to make! Create Your Happy is indeed a lovely book :)
Kat (The Baking Explorer) says
What a gorgeous looking cake, and so perfect for this time of year
Emily Leary says
Thank you! I hope you enjoy it if you give it a go!
Sarah says
Have you got an apple free version of the typical honey cake for the Jewish new year too?
Thank you!
Emily Leary says
Hi. The recipe will work without apples - just reduce the cooking time to allow for the reduced moisture.
Penny Alexander says
Oh Emily thank you this looks delicious and I loved the words so much too, totally conjures up your childhood. No wonder you became a food blogger!
Emily Leary says
Thanks, lovely! And congrats on creating such a lovely book. x
becky says
Well I wish you a sweet year my lovely and thank you so much for sharing our book and this delicious looking recipe
Emily Leary says
Thank you! You've creating a really special book xx
Choclette says
Oh yes, it's apple cake time of year again. I've not come across one using grated apple before, it looks and sounds lovely.