I’ve got this weird thing about using up every last drop of every ingredient because I hate throwing food away as much as I hate tofu (which is a lot.) The first time I made this slice to use up some left over buttermilk after a birthday bonanza with Nigella’s Buttermilk Birthday Cake. If you don’t have any buttermilk at home, don’t rush out and buy some because you can make your own in less than 10 minutes which means you can be sitting down to a slice of this deliciousness in just under an hour. Wouldn’t that be nice?
This slice is super easy because it’s doesn’t need a lot of ingredients, doesn’t require much effort nor does it require a lot of skill, not that you’d guess by looking at or devouring the end result! Although this slice involves three different stages; the caramel apples, the sponge and the buttermilk glaze, they’re all ridiculously easy whether you use a Thermomix or not. I haven’t yet worked out a way to caramelise the apples in the Thermomix so I still do mine on the stove, which keeps the bowl clean for the important business of cake mixing!
This slice has it all, a light sponge, topped with caramelly cinnamony apples and finished off nicely with a crunchy nut topping! It’s the perfect tea time treat.
Serves 12
Ingredients
1 medium (160g) apple, peeled, sliced thinly
¼ cup (50g) brown sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
30g butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1/3 cup (75g) caster sugar
1 egg
1 cup (150g) plain flour
½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
½ cup (125ml) buttermilk
1/3 cup (25g) flaked almonds
BUTTERMILK GLAZE
¼ cup (40g) icing sugar mixture
2 teaspoons buttermilk
¼ teaspoon vanilla essence
How to – Thermomix
- Preheat oven to 180C/160C fan forced.Grease and line a 20cm x 30cm slice pan, ensuring paper extends at least 5cm over the sides to make “handles.”
- Tocaramelise the apple, place the apple slices with brown sugar, juice and cinnamon in a small saucepan. Stir over a low heat for 8 minutes, or until softened. Allow to cool slightly.
- Beat the butter, vanilla essence, caster sugar and egg in a small bowl until combined. Stir in the dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk. Stir gently until well combined.
- Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared pan. Overlap the apple slices on the cake mixture, drizzle with the remaining caramel in the apple pan and sprinkle with the almonds.
- Bke for about 20 minutes or until the slice is cooked when tested. Stand for 10 minutes, and then, using the paper handles carefully lift the slice onto a wire rack. Allow to cool for 10 minutes.
- To make the buttermilk glaze, sift the icing sugar into a small bowl, stir in the buttermilk and essence and beat until smooth.
- Drizzle the buttermilk glaze over the top of the slice. Cut into 12 pieces.
How to – Thermomix
- Preheat oven to 180C/160C fan forced.Grease and line a 20cm x 30cm slice pan, ensuring paper extends at least 5cm over the sides to make “handles.”
- To caramelise the apple, place the apple slices with brown sugar, juice and cinnamon in a small saucepan. Stir over a low heat for 8 minutes, or until softened. Allow to cool slightly.
- Add flour and bicarb to TM bowl and mix for 5 seconds on speed 5. Set aside.
- Add sugar, butter and vanilla to TM bowl and mix for 5 seconds on speed 4. Scrape down sides and base of bowl and mix again for 10 seconds on speed 4.
- With the blades running on speed 3, add the egg through the hole in lid and mix for about 10 seconds.
- Add half of the dry ingredients and mix for 5 seconds on speed 4.
- Add half the buttermilk and mix for 5 seconds on speed 4.
- Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix for 5 seconds on speed 4. Scrape down sides and base of bowl.
- Add the remaining buttermilk and mix for 10 seconds on speed 4.
- Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared pan. Overlap the apple slices on the cake mixture, drizzle with the remaining caramel in the apple pan and sprinkle with the almonds.
- Bake for about 20 minutes or until the slice is cooked when tested. Stand for 10 minutes, and then, using the paper handles carefully lift the slice onto a wire rack. Allow to cool for 10 minutes.
- Place all the ingredients for the buttermilk glaze into the TM bowl. Insert the butterfly and mix for 10 seconds on speed 4 or until combined.
- Drizzle the buttermilk glaze over the top of the slice. Cut into 12 pieces.
Other info
Prep and Cooking time: 50 minutes – 1 hour (including cooling)
Tip! This slice is best eaten on the day it is made but it is suitable to freeze.
