Apple, Sultana and Banana Cake

Serves 8-10

The thing about being a compulsive baker is that I’m so busy creating the next new bake that I rarely revisit and often forget my old favourites. But when I got a lovely email from dear reader Robby telling me about the deliciousness of this cake, that I knew I had to take a trip down Baking Memory Lane and make this cake.

This cake has it all, it’s moist, fruity and delicious – just the way I like it! I converted the recipe to the Thermomix  from one of my best ever books A Generous Helping  which is a collection of the best loved recipes of the people of Queensland. The book was a massive fundraiser after the 2011 Queensland floods. You can easily make this without a Thermomix, because this cake is a one bowl wonder, but I’m way too lazy for that. Apparently, this recipe is over 50 years old and an old family favourite. I promise you, if you try it, it will be a favourite in your house too!

Ingredients – Traditional

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

250g self raising flour

1 teaspoon mixed spice

125g butter

125g caster sugar

1 egg, lightly beaten

225g Granny Smith apples, cored, peeled and chopped

100g sultanas

2 large bananas, roughly chopped

How to – Traditional

1. Preheat the oven to 190C (170C fan-forced). Grease a 23cm round cake tin and line the base and sides with baking paper.
2. Combine the brown sugar and cinnamon and set aside.
3. Sift the flour and mixed spice into a large bowl and rub in the butter until the mixture is like breadcrumbs.
4. Add the sugar and egg and stir well. Stir though the apples, sultanas and banana. The mixture should be dropping consistency. If it’s too thick, add a little milk.
5. Spoon the mixture into the tin and bake  for 50-60 minutes. If the cake browns too quickly, loosely cover with foil.
6. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with the sugar and cinnamon mixture while it’s still hot. Allow the cake to cool on a wire rack.

Ingredients – Thermomix

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

125g raw sugar

225g Granny Smith apples, cored, peeled and quartered

250g self raising flour

1 teaspoon mixed spice

125g butter

1 egg

100g sultanas

2 large bananas, roughly chopped

How to – Thermomix

1. Preheat the oven to 190C (170C fan-forced). Grease a 23cm round cake tin and line the base and sides with baking paper.
2. Combine the brown sugar and cinnamon and set aside.
3. Mill the raw sugar to caster sugar for 4 seconds on speed 9. Set aside.
4. Chop the apples for 4 seconds on speed 4. Set aside.
5. Add the flour and mixed spice and mix for 5 seconds  on speed 6. 
6. Add the butter and mix for 5 seconds on speed 6. The mixture should look like breadcrumbs. If necessary, repeat for another 5 seconds on speed 6.
7. Add sugar and egg and mix for 5 seconds  on speed 4.
8. Add chopped apple, banana and sultanas and mix for 10 seconds on reverse speed 4 using the spatula to assist.
9. The mixture should be dropping consistency. If it’s too thick, add a little milk. Spoon the mixture into the tin and bake  for 50-60 minutes. If the cake browns too quickly, loosely cover with foil.
10. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with the sugar and cinnamon mixture while it’s still hot. Allow the cake to cool on a wire rack.

Other info

Prep and Cooking time: 1 hour 10 minutes