Spiced pumpkin toffee apple cake recipe

• Serves 16
• 1 hr 10 mins to prepare and 45 mins to cook
• 565 calories / serving

Ingredients

• 4 eggs
• 200g dark brown soft sugar
• 150ml groundnut oil
• 100g raisins
• 100g desiccated coconut
• ½ tsp mixed spice
• 200g wholemeal self-raising flour
• 375g pumpkin or butternut squash, peeled and grated

For the toffee apples

• 3 small apples
• 200g caster sugar
• ½ tsp white wine vinegar
• 2 tbsp golden syrup
• 2 tbsp double cream
• 50g dried apricots, finely chopped
• 150g shelled pistachios, finely chopped
• 3 chocolate sticks, such as Matchmakers

For the icing

• 275g unsalted butter, softened
• 300g icing sugar, sifted
• 75g cocoa powder, sifted

For the salted caramel

• 397g tin condensed milk caramel
• ½ tsp sea salt flakes
• 65g dark chocolate

For the spun sugar (optional)

• 50g caster sugar

Method

1. Preheat the oven to gas 5, 190°C, and fan 170°C. Grease the base and sides of 2 x 19cm round tins, then line with nonstick baking paper.
2. Mix the eggs and sugar in a large bowl to make the cake. Gradually pour in the oil, whisking as you go.
3. Fold in the remaining cake ingredients, then divide between the tins.
4. Bake for 30-35 mins, until risen and springy. Cool for 2 mins before removing from the container, then transfer to a rack and leave to cool completely.
5. Meanwhile, make the toffee apples. Wash the apples in hot water to remove the waxy coating, then put on a sheet of nonstick baking paper and spear, each with a skewer.
6. Heat the sugar in a small pan with 50ml water until dissolved. Stir in the vinegar and golden syrup and bring to a boil.
7. Cook for 10-12 mins, until a drop, sets when drizzled into a glass of cold water. Stir in the cream and cook for 1-2 mins, then remove from the heat.
8. Toss the apricots and 50g pistachios together on a plate. Swirl each apple in the toffee to coat, then dip into the pistachio and apricot mixture.
9. Transfer to the baking paper to set. Remove the skewers and replace them with the chocolate sticks to give each apple a ‘stalk’ (see top tip).
10. To make the icing, beat 250g of the softened butter and the icing sugar and cocoa powder.
11. For the salted caramel, put the remaining butter in a small pan with the condensed milk caramel and heat together, stirring, until you have a smooth sauce.
12. Remove from the heat, stir in the salt and leave to cool while you ice the cake.
13. Put half of the cake on a plate and spread 2-3 tbsp of the icing over the top. Sprinkle with 50g pistachios.
14. Top with the other sponge then spread the remaining butter icing over the top and sides of the cake.
15. Pour half of the salted caramel and spread to the edges so it runs down the sides.
16. Chop 15g of the dark chocolate and stir into the remaining caramel until melted; pour over the cake and allow to run down the sides, creating a distinct second layer.
17. Arrange the toffee apples carefully on the top of the cake, stalks pointing upwards, and sprinkle with the remaining pistachios.
18. Melt the remaining chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water and drizzle over the apples and cake.
19. If decorating with spun sugar, melt the sugar in a small pan, without stirring, over medium heat.
20. Remove from the heat when the sugar turns golden brown, and leave to cool a little. Then hold the pan above the cake and, using a fork, flick the caramel over the cake and toffee apples.

Top tips

If you’re short on time, you can use ready-made toffee apples rather than make your own. Don’t lose your drip effect! Avoid the caramel becoming too runny by chilling the cake for 5-10 mins after applying each layer. Add the full-on wow factor to your cake by dipping broken chocolate sticks in melted chocolate to look like twigs.