Saturday, January 28, 2012

Apple Tea Cake With Lemon Glaze


The weather is getting warmer in Colorado, well, most of the days. As I type this, I see snow flakes falling on trees,like floating feathers. But still, it is unusually warm for a January in this ski country. As I have told you before, winter is my favorite excuse to bake something nice. This tea cake is no exception !

Apples- Honeycrisp




This is a nice, flavorful, tangy, sweet buttermilk pound cake that goes well with your afternoon coffee or tea. The layers in the picture made me want to try it, as soon as I opened this beautiful book I received from a giveaway. Isn't that a lovely presentation,with those surprise layers showing up ?

Apple Tea Cake with Lemon Glaze

Though the kids didn't like it much, the adults in the house really loved it. My kids are the pickiest eaters ever! Sometimes I think, I'm giving them way more choices than they should really have ! You will understand what I am trying to say ,once you read this whole story. As a kid I used to gobble up anything from a bakery,since I loved anything back then . My little sister and I, used to look for any baked goodies my mom might have brought and kept in her bag ,on the way back from her office. There was a really good bakery near to her office and sometimes when she, along with her friends, would just drop in to have some tea and the bakery owner would tempt her with the new items she could possibly buy for her kids. One of the things I still remember is these small pieces of tea cakes, wrapped like candies, in thin parchment paper. I do not know whether they still sell those cuties, I will definitely find it out during my next trip to Kerala.And if they are there-I'll buy them right away!

Apples- Honeycrisp

Don't misconcieve the story I was trying to tell you. This buying goodies used to happen only once in a blue moon. But still we used to grab her tote and thoroughly search, hoping for a bounty or a little something, everyday she comes back from work. We used to cherish and eat every little treat we used to get, unlike my super duper picky little fellows. Now tell me, didn't I spoil my kids? This cake is nothing like the cake in this story. But the name of this cake reminded me about those cute tea cakes I used to relish ages ago,as a kid.

Apple Tea Cake with Lemon Glaze

Have a great weekend all !!


Ingredients:

Unsalted Butter, at room temp- 1/2 cup
Granulated Sugar- 1 cup
All purpose Flour- 1 1/2 cup
Salt- 1/4 tsp
Baking Powder- 1/2 tsp
Baking Soda- 1/4 tsp
Eggs- 2 large +one yolk
Lemon Zest(optional)- 1/4 tsp
Buttermilk- 1/2 cup
Apple- 1 small firm-sweet or half of a big one
Cinnamon- 1/2 tsp,divided

For the glaze:

Confectioner's sugar- 1 cup
Lemon juice- 2 Tbsp

Method:

1.Preheat oven at 350 degree F. Grease a loaf pan preferably a 8.5 inch by 4.5 inch. (I used a bigger one and my cake is more flattened than it is supposed to be !)
2.Whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Set aside.Slice the cored and unpeeled apple using a mandoline, lengthwise
3.Beat the butter and sugar on high speed, till it turns pale, fluffy and almost mousse-like.This takes about 7-8 minutes.
4.Add the eggs and yolk, one at a time and beat well to mix in.
5.Add about a third of the flour mixture into this and mix on low speed.
6.Pour in half of the butter milk and mix well.Repeat till the flour is over.Do not over mix.
7.Spoon in a third of the batter in the pan.Layer with half of the apple slices and top with 1/4 tsp of cinnamon.
8.Pour 1/3 rd of the batter on top and level with a spatula. Arrange the remaining apple slices, topped with rest of the cinnamon.
9.Top with the rest of the batter, level it and bake for about 45 minutes or until a tester inserted comes out clean.
10.remove cake from the oven and cool for about 5 minutes on a wire rack ,in the pan.
11.Meanwhile mix the confectioner's sugar and the lemon juice to make the glaze.
13.Poke the cake with a toothpick inserted all the way.Pour over about half of the glaze on the cake and let it soak.
14.After 10 minutes turn the cake on a wire rack and let cool. Pour the remaining glaze over the cake, let it set and serve with tea/coffee.

Notes:

1.The original recipe didn't call for any lemon zest in the recipe.
2.The author suggests to use a apple that has lemon flavors in it, like Ginger gold or Gravenstein. I used Honey Crisp apples.
3.The cake is sticky, so I would recommend lining the pan with a parchment paper.

Recipe Adapted From:The Apple Lover's Cookbook


29 comments:

  1. cake looks fabulous...awesome clicks!

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  2. Oooh! That would be lovely with a cup of tea.

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  3. nice photo:)especially the last one!

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  4. cake looks yummmm...absolutely love the clicks..

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  5. Pretty photos! The cake looks super too.

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  6. Stunning and great looking cake,simply love the lemon glaze...Seriously cant take my eyes from ur irresistible clicks..

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  7. Don't worry you are not alone, my son is a picky eater too :-( Good to see that you have tried a recipe from you giveaway book. Beautiful looking cake


    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  8. would be perfect for any time... lovely cake...

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  9. Hehe, I guess every generation parents think they've spoiled their kids, and the cycle goes on :D :D :D

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  10. Wow! beautiful cake,perfect with a cup of tea..yum

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  11. What a perfect tea cake.Love the lemon glaze in that

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  12. Apple cake with lemon glaze is such a nice idea..looks awesome

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  13. Nicely done! This looks like a winning cake. Delicious!

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  14. I love apple cake but the husband..not that much which is why I hardly bake apple cake these days. This looks really lovely.

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  15. Yeah, I have to agree, don't give them too much choices and they will come back to you and gobble whatever you have to give them, LOL!:P
    How dare they say no to this awesome looking and heavenly tasting cake?
    I am a picky eater myself, though, *laughs* :P (I hope your kids do not read my comment..hehe :)

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  16. Wonderful cake !! yeah I know what you are talking about !! Kids these days are given too many choices and they always think What's next !!

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  17. Awesome apple teacake, sounds delicious. Lovely clicks, very sharp and clean and very humble way of presenting :)
    u brought back my memories, even my mom used get many of those baked goods back from office and I had a smile on my face when I read about both of you searching her purse. Me n my sis used to do the same and our mom used to say 'athil onnum illa mokkale' he he ;)

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  18. Beautiful presentation Namitha..Your Clicks are inspiring me to put some effort when I post recipes on my blog.LOL. Love your apple teacake and your story which goes along with it too.

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  19. The cake looks beautiful and the book looks really good too, but i habe prosmise dmyself i will stop buying cookbooks for few months that is if i can hold on to that promise and welcome to the add world :-)

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  20. wow...lipsmacking goood...excellent cliks dear..;)
    Tasty Appetite

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  21. I luv apple in cakes...But never imagined in tea cake...I miss colorado,hope u r having wonderful time.

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  22. Ahhh...food brings back such good memories. I know I was a picky eater as a child, but grew up liking many things that my parents don't. My daughter started out picky now at 17 she is amazing...all the different things she will eat. This tea cake looks like a delight, I know we would love it too.

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  23. That's a beautiful cake Nami! My son is also a picky eater and he dont eat most of the things I post in my blog :) So you are not alone dear!

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  24. My kids are really picky too, but I was just like that as a kid; so I guess they will grow out of it and come to appreciate food more. Your cake is so pretty and sounds delicious.

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  25. Beautiful looking cake Nami. A nice way to trick the apple in to a kid's diet.

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  26. Ohhhh kids... I feel like kids here always have "choices". Well they are told from young days that here are choices, choose one. When I was small, there was no choice. If parents or teachers say something we just have to do it... That's what I realized not a long ago when my kids have something to say about food I make etc....they are used to say what THEY want. It's nice that they have their opinion from such a small age (back in Japan individual opinions are not so important), but I guess they just know they have choices (to eat or not to eat... for example). I'd totally enjoy this cake and I will eat your kids' share! Beautiful photography and I love the feeling of your photos. They relax me!

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