Courgette and caraway cake

Less than 30 mins preparation time
10 to 30 mins cooking time
Makes 1  20cm cake

 

A moist, spiced teatime cake filled with apple-flavoured cream cheese and topped with crunchy caramelized oats.

 

Ingredients

·         2 tsp caraway seeds

·         100g self-raising flour

·         100g wholemeal flour

·         175g golden caster sugar

·         1 tsp baking powder

·         pinch salt

·         200g unsalted butter, softened

·         3 free-range eggs

·         250g courgettes, grated and dried in a clean tea towel

 

For the filling

·         3-4 juicy eating apples, peeled

·         2-3 tbsp cloudy apple juice

·         2 tbsp sugar

·         50g butter, softened

·         300g cream cheese, softened

 

For the topping

·         2 handfuls oats

·         golden caster sugar

 

Preparation method

1. Pre-heat the oven to 190C. Line 2 x 20cm diameter cake tins with baking parchment.

2. Over a medium heat in a frying pan, toast the caraway seeds for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.

3. Sift the flours into the bowl of a food processor then add the sugar, baking powder and salt. Add the butter and eggs and process them until they form a batter. (You can also do this in a large bowl with a handheld electric mixer.)

4. Tip the batter into a large bowl and gently fold through the grated courgettes and the caraway seeds.

5. Divide the mixture equally between the two lined cake tins and cook for 25-30 minutes or until golden-brown and springy to the touch. Remove from the tins and cool on a rack.

6. For the filling, grate the apples into a pan and add the apple juice as required to keep apples moist. Add the sugar and bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally until the apples are softened, caramelized and all obvious wateriness has gone. Turn off the heat and leave to cool.

7. Add the butter and the cooled apple mixture to the bowl of a large food processor and blend to a purée. Stir this into the softened cream cheese and set aside.

8. For the topping, toast the oats in a dry frying pan until golden-brown and aromatic, then add the sugar to caramelize the oats.

9. Once the cakes are cool, spread a thick layer of the filling on onto one cake. Gently place the other cake onto the top, then spread a thinner layer of icing on top. Sprinkle with the toasted oats and serve.