Apple Cardamom Spiced Cake

The name of the cake is self explanatory and does not need any introduction but what is needed are high praises for it's appearance and the spice, cardamom, with apples made a good marriage indeed.



Ingredients:
115 g/4 oz/1/2 cup butter
115 g/4 oz/1/2 cup sugar
3 large eggs
225 g/8 oz/2 cups all purpose flour
15 ml/1 tbsp baking powder
30 ml/2 tbsp milk
crushed seeds from 2 cardamom pods
50 g/2 oz/1/2 cup walnuts - chopped
15 ml/1 tbsp poppy seeds
500 g/l lb granny smith apples - peeled, cored and thinly sliced.

To decorate:

3 walnut halves
Reserved apple slices
45 ml/3 tbsp clear honey

Method:

Preheat the oven to 180 c/350 f.

Grease a 20 cm/8 inch round loose-bottom cake tin and line the base with greaseproof paper.

Cream the butter and sugar together until pale and light.

Gradually beat in the eggs, a little at a time, until incorporated.

Sift the flour and baking powder together and fold in, alternating with the milk.

Stir in the cardamom, chopped nuts and poppy seeds.

Remove 1/3 of the apple slices and chop the rest.

Fold in the chopped apples into the creamed mixture.

Transfer to the prepared tin.

Smooth the surface, making a small dip in the centre.

Place the 3 walnut halves in the centre of the cake mixture, and fan the reserved apple slices around the walnuts, covering the cake mixture.

Bake for 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 hours, or until a skewer inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean

Remove the cake from the oven.

Cool in the tin for 20 minutes, then turn out on to a wire rack, brush with the clear honey and leave to cool completely.


Serves