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Apple Cake with Rum Buttercream

A crowd-pleasing apple cake topped with a lavish rum buttercream. This gorgeous apple cake recipe is made with buttermilk for an extra light and fluffy sponge.

Introduction

Filled and topped with a fluffy rum buttercream, this creamed sponge cake is flavoured with chopped apples, raisins and pecans plus a touch of mixed spices. Buttermilk gives the sponge a delicate light texture.

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Ingredients

For the cake:
150g unsalted butter, softened
300g caster sugar
3 medium free-range eggs, at room temperature
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
300g plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
225ml buttermilk
1 medium eating apple (about 115g), peeled, cored and finely chopped
40g raisins
40g pecan pieces
For the buttercream:
85g caster sugar
4 tbsp water
2 medium free-range egg yolks, at room temperature
150g unsalted butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
2-3 tbsp dark rum, to taste

Essential kit

You will need: 2x 20.5cm deep sandwich tins.

Method

You will need: 2x 20.5cm deep sandwich tins, greased and base-lined.

1. Heat your oven to 180°C/350°F/gas 4. Put the soft butter and sugar into a large mixing bowl and beat for about 2 minutes with an electric mixer until thoroughly combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl from time to time.

2. Beat the eggs with the vanilla in a small bowl with a fork, just until mixed. Gradually add to the butter mixture, beating well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as before.

3. Sift the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg into another bowl. Add about a third of the flour mix to the egg mix and use a large metal spoon or plastic spatula to stir in gently. Then add about a third of the buttermilk and gently mix it in. Add the remaining flour and buttermilk in the same way, in 2 batches each. Add the apple, raisins and nuts to the bowl and gently stir in until everything is thoroughly combined.

4. Divide the mixture equally between the prepared tins and spread evenly. Place in the heated oven and bake for about 30 minutes until risen and golden brown and the top springs back when gently pressed in the centre.

5. Set the tins on a wire rack and run a rounded bladed knife around each sponge to loosen it from its tin. Turn out the sponges on to the rack and leave to cool completely.

6. To make the buttercream, put the sugar and water into a small heavy-based pan and heat gently, without boiling, until the sugar dissolves. Then bring the syrup to the boil and boil until the temperature reaches 110°C on a sugar thermometer (this will take about 5 minutes). Don’t let the syrup start to caramelise.

7. While the syrup is boiling, put the egg yolks into a heatproof bowl (set on a damp cloth to prevent wobbling) and whisk for a few seconds with an electric mixer until frothy. As soon as the syrup reaches the right temperature, slowly pour it into the bowl in a steady stream, whisking constantly. Then keep whisking until the mixture becomes very thick and mousse-like, pale in colour and completely cold.

8. Cut the butter into small pieces and gradually whisk into the egg mix, then whisk in the vanilla and rum to taste. The buttercream needs to be easy to spread but firm enough to hold its shape, so if necessary cover the bowl and chill briefly.

9. Set one sponge layer (crust-side down) on a serving plate. Spread half of the buttercream over the surface, then place the second sponge (crustside up) on this. Cover the top of the sponge with the rest of the buttercream, swirling it with a palette knife or round-bladed knife. Leave, uncovered, at cool room temperature to firm up for a couple of hours before serving. Store in an airtight container in a cool spot (not the fridge) and eat within 4 days.

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