Originating in Germany, streusel is a crumbly topping of butter, sugar and flour which adds a lovely crunch to cakes, muffins and breads. This rustic apple cake is a wonderful marriage of contrasting textures and flavours with a crunchy, cinnamon streusel topping, creamy vanilla custard centre and richly spiced apple cake made using six whole apples!
INGREDIENTS:
Streusel
- 45g butter
- 110g plain flour
- 80g brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Spiced apple cake
6 Granny Smith apples (approx 800g)- 220g caster sugar
- 250g butter
- 4 eggs
- 250g plain flour
- 3 tsp baking powder
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp cardamom
Custard
- 250g milk
- 30g caster sugar
- 15g cornflour
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 egg
METHOD:
Preheat oven to 150°C. Line and grease two round 19cm (7.5 inch) cake tins and set aside.
Thermomix Method:
- Streusel: Cut butter into cubes and put in TM bowl. Melt butter by mixing for 40 sec/50°C/speed 4. Add sugar, flour and cinnamon and mix 20 sec/speed 3. Pour into a bowl and set aside.
- To prepare the apples for the cake, peel, halve and core apples.Thinly slice apples and place onto Varoma tray.Place 500g water into TM bowl, and put Varoma tray into position. Sprinkle cinnamon over apples and steam 10 min/Varoma/speed 4. Set aside apples.
- To make the cake, add butter to TM bowl and mix 30 sec/90°C/speed 1 to melt. Add sugar and mix 1 min/speed 3. With blades rotating on speed 3, add eggs one at a time through the hole in the mixing bowl lid. Add flour, baking powder and spices and mix 20 sec/speed 4.
- Pour a thin layer of batter into each of the cake tins and arrange sliced apple on top. Pour another layer of batter over the sliced apple and spread evenly. Arrange another layer of sliced apple over the batter. Pour a third and final layer of batter over each cake. On one cake, arrange a layer of sliced apple and on the other cake, pour over the streusel.Bake in oven for 55 minutes, or until cooked through when tested with a skewer.
- Cool the cake in the tin for 10 minutes before before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- To make the custard, add all ingredients to a clean TM bowl and cook 7 min/90°C/speed 4.
- To assemble cake, place the apple topped cake on a plate and spread over cooled custard. Carefully place streusel topped cake on top.
Conventional Method:
- Streusel: Cut butter into cubes and place in a medium sized pan and melt on low heat. Add sugar, flour and cinnamon to butter and use a fork to stir until well combined. Set aside.
- To prepare the apples for the cake, peel, halve and core apples.Thinly slice apples and place in a microwave-safe dish. Sprinkle cinnamon over apples and microwave on high for 2 minutes. Set aside.
- To make the cake, put the butter and sugar in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and beat in eggs one at a time. Add sifted flour, baking powder and spices and mix together with a wooden spoon until just combined.
- Pour a thin layer of batter into each of the cake tins and arrange sliced apple on top. Pour another layer of batter over the sliced apple and spread evenly. Arrange another layer of sliced apple over the batter. Pour a third and final layer of batter over each cake. On one cake, arrange a layer of sliced apple and on the other cake, pour over the streusel.
- Bake in oven for 55 minutes, or until cooked through when tested with a skewer.
- Cool the cake in the tin for 10 minutes before before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- To make the custard, heat the milk in a saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Remove saucepan from heat.
- Use an electric mixer to whisk the eggs and sugar in a mixing bowl until thick and pale. Sift the cornflour, then stir into the egg mixture until smooth and well combined. Pour hot milk mixture over egg mixture and whisk constantly.
- Return custard mixture to saucepan and bring the mixture to a simmer, whisking constantly until the custard thickens.
- To assemble cake, place the apple topped cake on a plate and spread over cooled custard. Carefully place streusel topped cake on top.
About the Author: anita@thenextrushmagazine.com
Anita Munoz is a passionate home cook and foodie. You can keep up with her work on Instagram by clicking on the links below.
About the Thermomix:
“The Thermomix ® unites 20 functions in one sleek, compact unit. So you can chop, beat, mix, whip, weigh, mill, knead, mince, grate, juice, blend, heat, stir, steam, sauté, slow-cook and sous-vide food quicker and easier than ever. Check out the TM6 here. It packs versatility, innovation and power into a single bench top necessity. To find out more about cooking smarter, simpler and sooner, book your in-home Cooking Experience today.
You might also like:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B28sPcXAuk7/