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    Home ยป Cake recipes

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    Apple, cinnamon and honey cake

    Jump to Recipe

    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.

    A sliced apple, cinnamon and honey cake

    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.

    This apple, cinnamon and honey cake recipe was inspired by the Create Your Own Happy book

    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.

    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.

    Reading Create Your Own Happy with a slice of apple, cinnamon and honey cake

    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

    • 200 g (7.05 oz) white caster sugar (superfine sugar)
    • 75 g (2.65 oz) salted butter or margarine, room temperature
    • 3 medium free-range eggs
    • 200 g (7.05 oz) self-raising white flour (self rising flour) sieved
    • 1 tsp cinnamon
    • 3 eating apples peeled, cored and chopped
    • 1 eating apples cored and sliced into thin wedges
    • 1 tbsp runny honey

    To finish

    • 2 tbsp runny honey

    Equipment

    Instructions

    Preheat the oven 180C (160C fan, 350F). Cream the butter and sugar together.

    Cubed butter and sugar in a bowl
    Creamed butter and sugar in a mixing bowl

    Beat in the eggs.

    Eggs are added to the cake mix
    Preparing the apple, cinnamon and honey cake mix

    Add the flour and cinnamon and beat again.

    Flour and cinnamon are added to the cake mix
    Mixing ingredients together for this apple, cinnamon and honey cake

    Fold in the chopped apples.

    Chopped apples are added to the cake mix
    The finished apple, cinnamon and honey cake batter

    Line the loaf tin and fill with the batter then top with a row of the sliced apple.

    Lining the loaf tin with apple, cinnamon and honey cake batter and topping with sliced apple

    Drizzle with 1 tbsp honey.

    The apple, cinnamon and honey cake in a loaf tin, topped with sliced apples and drizzled with honey

    Bake for 60 minutes or until the centre is set.

    Freshly baked apple, cinnamon and honey cake in a loaf tin cooling on a wire rack

    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.

    Close up of apple, cinnamon and honey cake

    Allow to cool completely before releasing from the tin, then cut into slices and serve with a cup of tea. Don't expect it to last very long!

    Do you have any special bakes that remind you of your childhood?

    If you'd like to print this apple, cinnamon and honey cake recipe to try later, just hit PRINT on the recipe card below.

    Print Recipe
    4.8 from 16 votes

    Apple and Honey Cake Recipe

    This delicious apple and honey loaf cake is a sticky, sweet, moist, moreish and comforting treat.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time1 hour hr
    Total Time1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
    Course: cakes and bakes
    Cuisine: British
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Servings: 10 slices
    Author: Emily Leary

    Ingredients

    For the cake

    • 200 g (7.05 oz) white caster sugar (superfine sugar)
    • 75 g (2.65 oz) salted butter or margarine, room temperature
    • 3 medium free-range eggs
    • 200 g (7.05 oz) self-raising white flour (self rising flour) sieved
    • 1 tsp cinnamon
    • 3 eating apples peeled, cored and chopped
    • 1 eating apples 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.
    • Allow to cool completely before releasing from the tin.
    • Cut into slices and serve with a cup of tea. Don't expect it to last very long.

    Video

    Notes

    My grandmother always kept the cake for us in the fridge, so try it chilled overnight for a different but equally delicious experience. Give it a try!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 279kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 73mg | Potassium: 116mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 300IU | Vitamin C: 3.4mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 0.5mg
    * Note: nutritional information is estimated, based on publicly available data. Nutrient values may vary from those published. Information on this website should not be taken as medical advice. Cuisines identify the primary region of inspiration for a dish.
    Tried this recipe?Snap a pic and tag @amummytoo on Instagram or tag @EmilyLearyCooks on Twitter. I can't wait to see your posts!

    Pin this apple and honey cake

    Overhead shot of the apple and honey cake cooling on a wire rack. In the topo left hand corner there is some white text on a green background describing the image for Pinterest.
    Close up overhead shot of the apple and honey cake inside a tin cooling on a wire rack. At the top of the image there is some teal text describing the image for Pinterest.
    Sliced apple and honey cake served on a white plate with a decoative fork on the side. The cake slice is topped with a drizzle of honey. At the top of the image there is some brown text describing the image for Pinterest.
    Sliced apple and honey cake served on a white table with some sliced apples on the side. At the bottom of the image there is some text describing the image for Pinterest.
    Overhead shot of the sliced cinnamon apple and honey cake on a white table. At the top of the image there's some brown text describing the image for Pinterest.

    More apple recipes to try

    Apple and Granola Puff Parcels Recipe
    Gorgeous flaky parcels filled with apples, cinnamon, sugar and a surprising ingredient: fruit and nut granola!
    Get the recipe
    Waffle Apple Burgers Recipe. Kid-Friendly, Gluten-Free Dessert
    A fun and fruity treat that makes perfect individual portions, fantastic for when you and your family deserve something a bit special and extra delicious.
    Get the recipe
    Delicious Toffee Apple Cake Recipe
    This toffee apple cake recipe is moist and delicious with a hidden layer of tender apples in the centre. Serve it hot with ice cream or cold with custard.
    Get the recipe
    Toffee Apple Crumble Recipe
    Toffee apple crumble is as good as it sounds. Tart apples, creamy sweet toffee sauce and a perfectly crunchy crumble topping.
    Get the recipe

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      4.75 from 16 votes (7 ratings without comment)

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    1. Kara says

      September 19, 2018 at 5:00 pm

      We are loving the CYOHappy book and I love how you have linked it to food and memories

      Reply
      • Emily Leary says

        September 20, 2018 at 11:12 am

        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 :)

        Reply
    2. Linda Hobbis says

      September 19, 2018 at 11:44 am

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • Emily Leary says

        September 20, 2018 at 11:39 am

        Great! This recipe brought back so many childhood memories which my kids loved hearing about! Enjoy!

        Reply
    3. Leah Lander-Shafik says

      September 19, 2018 at 11:31 am

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
      • Emily Leary says

        September 20, 2018 at 11:40 am

        Thank you so much! Create Your Own Happy would make a really lovely Christmas gift!

        Reply
    4. Debbie says

      September 18, 2018 at 10:27 pm

      This looks amazing and the book is on my Christmas list too.

      Reply
      • Emily Leary says

        September 20, 2018 at 12:00 pm

        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!

        Reply
    5. Kate says

      September 18, 2018 at 11:15 am

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • Emily Leary says

        September 20, 2018 at 10:50 am

        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 :)

        Reply
    6. Kat (The Baking Explorer) says

      September 14, 2018 at 10:07 am

      5 stars
      What a gorgeous looking cake, and so perfect for this time of year

      Reply
      • Emily Leary says

        September 14, 2018 at 1:16 pm

        Thank you! I hope you enjoy it if you give it a go!

        Reply
    7. Sarah says

      September 13, 2018 at 8:10 pm

      Have you got an apple free version of the typical honey cake for the Jewish new year too?
      Thank you!

      Reply
      • Emily Leary says

        September 14, 2018 at 1:24 pm

        Hi. The recipe will work without apples - just reduce the cooking time to allow for the reduced moisture.

        Reply
    8. Penny Alexander says

      September 13, 2018 at 6:30 pm

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • Emily Leary says

        September 14, 2018 at 1:48 pm

        Thanks, lovely! And congrats on creating such a lovely book. x

        Reply
    9. becky says

      September 13, 2018 at 3:05 pm

      5 stars
      Well I wish you a sweet year my lovely and thank you so much for sharing our book and this delicious looking recipe

      Reply
      • Emily Leary says

        September 14, 2018 at 1:49 pm

        Thank you! You've creating a really special book xx

        Reply
    10. Choclette says

      September 17, 2012 at 3:53 pm

      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.

      Reply
    Newer Comments »

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