The Apple Cake That Feels Like Home

Tags: best cake ever, cake, Country House, cupcakes, homebaking, homemade cake, Irish food, Irish ingredients, private catering, recipes

Since the children returned to school, the days are almost back to normal levels of busy-ness. Monday is still cake day here but we also need to get the homework and sports activities squeezed in.

With plenty of apples still left to use up and time against me today, I went back to an old reliable and favourite here, our slightly rustic Dunowen Apple Cake. Whip it together in 10 minutes then pop in the oven for 50…the smell in the house will be divine and you will be a complete domestic goddess!!

Dunowen apple cake on a glass plate.
Dunowen apple cake on a glass plate.
Ingredients:
  • 220g caster sugar
  • 110g ground almonds
  • 110g self-raising flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 3 free range eggs, lightly beaten
  • 140g melted butter
  • 2-3 Bramley or other cooking apple. Peel, core & slice.
  • Flaked almonds
Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 160C or 140C fan. Butter the base & sides of a 20cm springform or loose bottom tin then line the base with parchment paper.
2. Sift flour & baking powder into large bowl, then mix in the sugar & ground almonds.
3. Make a well in the centre and add the melted butter and beaten eggs. Mix with a wooden spoon or spatula until combined.
4. Spread 1/3 of the mix on the base then cover with the apple chunks / slices. Pour the remainder of the mix over the apples, spreading gently until mostly covered. Don’t worry if some of the slices are not covered.
5. Sprinkle the cake with flaked almonds then pop in the over for 50-55 minutes until golden brown & a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.
6. Dust with icing sugar and serve warm with cream or custard. It’s also lovely eaten cold the following day.

"A Magical West Cork Escape"

We stayed at Dunowen House for a long weekend and genuinely didn’t want to leave. From the moment we arrived, we were blown away by the beauty of the house and its surroundings – the views, the gardens, the quiet… it’s pure magic. The house itself is full of character and history but still feels incredibly cosy and luxurious.

We loved having our morning coffee overlooking the sea and strolling down to the nearby coves. It was the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure. Clonakilty is only a few minutes away too, so we had some lovely meals out and picked up bits from the local markets.

"A Dream Wedding Come to Life"

We were blown away with the unmatched beauty of Dunowen – the set- ting, the people and all the details make it come to life. We feel so blessed to have had our wedding here and so grateful for Kela and Stephen for making this the most special day of our lives. We are leaving a piece of our hearts here so we will absolutely have to come back again. All our love

"An Unforgettable Celebration of Love"

I could not have imagined a more beautiful stay and wedding. We took a chance and put our trust in Kela and Stephen, booking Dunowen sight un- seen! What a wonderful experience to celebrate our love with the people we care about most without having to worry about the details. The flow- ers, the food and the accommodations were unforgettable. Thank you for giving us the space to create lifetime memories! Dunowen will have a piece of our heart. We hope to come back and do it again!

"A Perfect Stay"

Kela and Stephen. Thank you for our wonderful stay at Dunowen House and letting us enjoy the beauty of West Cork in your wonderful home and surroundings. We absolutely loved it.

"Another Unforgettable Stay"

Thank you Kela & Stephen for another amazing stay. When you’ve stayed in Dunowen it’s impossible to stay elsewhere. Your house is per- fection!

"A Perfect 70th Celebration"

Many thanks Kela and Stephen for a wonderful stay at Dunowen House. The house is so spacious, especially for our smallish family group who helped me celebrate my 70th birthday. Thanks for the beautiful flowers throughout and all the home baking. We loved the location.

"Surrounded by Dunowen’s Gardens and Coastal Beauty"

Thank you for a wonderful week. Everything was perfect and we loved being able to walk to the beach and sit in the beautiful gardens. Hope to come again.

"A Perfect 80th Birthday Celebration"

The end of a fabulous week celebrating my 80th birthday. It has been a brilliant stay with everything we needed. Just perfect. Thank you so much Kela & Stephen for your thought and kindness. All the best for the future and perhaps we will see you again!

The Ultimate 5-Star Escape

Bravo! You have created the perfect backdrop for a 5 star vacation. Our group of 18 could not have imagined a more comfortable and luxe week. I’ll see you on Instagram and we will all see you again in person next va- cation.

Flowers and fruits cake close up Flowers and fruits cake close up