Lumberjack cake

Name: Lumberjack cake
Cook time: 2 h 30 min
Ingredients: 125g butter, and extra for greasing cake tin; 2 medium granny smith apples; 185g dates; 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda; 1 cup boiling water; 1 cup sugar; 1 large egg; 1 tsp vanilla essence; 1 1/2 cups plain flour; 1/2 tsp salt

CAROLINE VELIK

November 11, 2011

Time:2 hours +

This delicious cake will become a favourite. It's filled with apples and dates, then topped with crunchy, caramelised coconut.

Ingredients

125g butter, and extra for greasing cake tin
2 medium granny smith apples
185g dates
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 cup boiling water
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 1/2 cups plain flour
1/2 tsp salt

Topping

1/2 cup brown sugar
60g butter
1/3 cup milk
60g shredded coconut

Method

Preheat oven to 180C.
Butter and line a loaf tin (14 centimetres x 24 centimetres).
Peel, core and cut apples into small pieces.
Chop dates and mix with apples and bicarbonate.
Pour boiling water over the top and leave until lukewarm.
Cream butter and sugar in an electric mixer until fluffy.
Add egg and vanilla and beat well.
Sift flour and salt into creamed mixture, alternately folding in the apple mixture.
Pour into tin and bake for one hour or until cooked.
For topping, mix sugar with butter, milk and coconut in a small saucepan over a low heat.
Spread over cooked cake.
Return cake to oven and bake for another 15 minutes until topping is golden-brown and crunchy.