Toffee Apple Crumble Layer Cake

This toffee apple crumble layer cake has four layers of light brown sugar sponges, an apple compote filling,  delicious salted caramel and clusters of crumble.

Serves 16–24

Ingredients

For the sponge:
750g unsalted butter, softened
600g golden caster sugar
150g light muscovado sugar
12 large eggs
750g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
180ml whole milk
½ tsp vanilla extract

For the crumble:
225g plain flour
135g soft brown sugar
1 tsp fine sea salt
150g unsalted butter, cold, cubed

For the cinnamon buttercream:
900g unsalted butter, softened
1.95kg icing sugar
2 tsp ground cinnamon
180ml whole milk
1½ tsp vanilla extract

For the apple compote filling:
2 Bramley apples, peeled, cored and diced
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and diced
2 Pink Lady apples, peeled, cored and diced
juice of 1 lemon
50g unsalted butter
100g caster sugar
2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp cornflour
4 tbsp water

For the topping:
350ml shop-bought salted caramel
apple crisps (optional)

You will need 4 × 25cm cake tins

Method

Preheat oven to 180.C/Fan 160.C/Gas 4 and grease and line the cake tins.

Start with your apple compote. Place all the apples in a large saucepan with the lemon juice, butter, sugar and cinnamon. Mix the cornflour and water together with a fork in a small bowl then pour this over the apples. Give the apples a stir, then place the pan over a low-medium heat and cook gently, stirring occasionally. Taste the compote every now and then, because it depends on how mushy you want your apples to be. Once your desired consistency is achieved, pop the apple compote into a bowl and set side. Once cool, place in the fridge until ready to use.

For the cake, cream your butter and both sugars together in a large bowl with a free-standing or hand-held mixer until light and fluffy. Crack the eggs in one at a time, mixing after each addition. If the mixture begins to curdle, just pop in a couple of tablespoons of the flour to bring it back together. Turn the speed down very low and add your flour and baking powder. Finally, add the milk and vanilla and give it one more blast.

Divide your mixture evenly between the cake tins and bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10–15 minutes in the tins before turning out on to a wire rack.

For the crumble, line a baking tray with baking paper. Tip your flour, sugar and salt into a large bowl and give it a good mix. Take the cubes of butter and begin to rub them into the flour. Deep rubbing – remember you want clustery crumble. Tip the crumble on to the baking tray and bake for 25–30 minutes, until deep golden brown. Remove from the oven and leave to cool.

Once cool, smash it. And then tip into an airtight container ready for later.

To make the buttercream, measure your butter into a large bowl and beat with your free-standing or hand-held mixer until light and pale. Sift your icing sugar and cinnamon into a separate bowl, then add it to the butter in 3 stages, beating after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl from time to time. Add your milk and vanilla to loosen the buttercream and give it one more mix.

To assemble the cake, use a cake leveller or sharp knife to trim the top off all the cakes so they are level. Spread a small amount of buttercream on a board that is slightly bigger than your sponges and place your first layer of sponge on top. Place that board on a turntable, if you have one.

Place half the buttercream in a piping bag, snip the end and pipe a circle around the edge of the first layer of sponge, leaving a 10cm circle in the middle. Fill that circle with apple compote and sprinkle with crumble. Spoon the caramel into a piping bag and cut the tip off, then squiggle the salted caramel on top. Repeat until all the sponges are stacked. Your last sponge should be placed upside down on top.

Using a palette knife, cake scraper and a turntable, coat the outside and top of the cake with a thin layer of the remaining buttercream. Place in the fridge for at least an hour to set.

Remove the cake from the fridge and apply another layer of buttercream around the sides and top of the cake. Use any leftover buttercream to pipe around the top edges of your cake. Finally, place apple crisps on top with more crumble and – YES – MORE SALTED CARAMEL!

Recipes extracted from Cheeky Treats by Liam Charles, published by Hodder & Stoughton on 12th July priced £20.00 Photography by Haarala Hamilton © Hodder & Stoughton 2018