The photo that I posted of this cake a few days ago – well, I’ve received a great number of requests for the recipe, so here it is.

HONEY CARAMEL APPLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE

I use a jar of diced apples (Fowlers jar size 36), drained.

However, you could use diced fresh apples. However, in the latter case, the apples may discolour (depending on the apple variety and size of dice), so I would tend to cook them for 5 minutes before using in the cake – just stew with a ¼ cup water, then drain and cool.

Ingredients

800g diced apples (peeled and cored weight)
For the honey caramel
125 g butter
125 g soft brown sugar
20 ml honey
For the cake
2 eggs
200 g white sugar
125 ml milk
230 g self-raising flour
finely grated zest of 1 lemon
125 salted butter, melted and cooled slightly
30 ml honey, for glazing

Method

Preheat the oven to 160 °C. Grease an approximately 23 x 30 x 3 cm lamington-style tin. Line the base with baking paper and then grease again.

To make the honey caramel

Melt the butter, brown sugar and honey together. Bring to the boil and simmer for about 1 minute, whisking, until the mixture comes together. Pour into the base of the prepared tin.

Distribute the apples over the caramel.

To make the cake

Place all the ingredients in the order listed into a medium mixing bowl and beat for 2 minutes with an electric mixer.

Pour the batter over the prepared pears and caramel, then carefully level the mixture with a spatula, leaving slightly concave in the middle.

Bake for 30–40 minutes or until a metal skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.

Allow to stand for 5 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack that has been placed over a tray or piece of baking paper (this way any spilled caramel can be retrieved by spooning up and over the cake).

Heat the extra tablespoon of honey in a small saucepan and simmer until boiling and then spoon over the cake.

Cool the cake for 15 minutes before cutting into squares to serve.

HINT – if desired, close to serving time, drizzle the top with some extra warmed honey to further enhance the cake’s beautiful shine.