If you’re a novice baker and have been looking for a super simple cake to practice your skills with, then this tasty apple and almond cake is the perfect place to start! With a super simple ingredients list, this dessert treat is incredibly easy to perfect.

You can serve it up either warm or at room temperature but either way, make sure you pop a scoop of vanilla ice cream alongside it to give it that extra touch of sweetness. Hand it over to hungry family and friends and enjoy!

Ingredients

• Melted butter, to grease
• 180g butter, at room temperature, chopped
• 140g (2/3 cup) caster sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 3 eggs, at room temperature
• 100g (1 cup) almond meal
• 150g (1 cup) self-raising flour
• 80ml (1/3 cup) milk
• 2 small red apples, quartered, cored, thinly sliced
• Vanilla custard, to serve

Method

1. Preheat oven to 170C. Brush a round 22cm (base measurement) cake pan with melted butter to grease. Line the base and side with non-stick baking paper.
2. Use an electric beater to beat the butter, sugar and vanilla in a bowl, scraping down the side occasionally, for 8 minutes or until pale and creamy. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
3. Stir in the almond meal. Add half the flour and half the milk. Use a wooden spoon to stir until well combined. Repeat with remaining flour and milk.
4. Arrange the apple, slightly overlapping, over the base of the prepared pan. Spoon the mixture into the pan and smooth the surface. Bake in oven for 30-35 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Set aside in the pan for 10 minutes to cool slightly before turning onto a serving plate. Serve warm with custard.