Mum’s easy apple teacake: a favourite childhood recipe

As I’ve explained before, with the exception of banana cake, my Mum was the baker in the family. While she didn’t bake that often, one of my favourite recipes was her apple teacake.

I don’t know whether I liked it more because of the taste of the apple teacake or because it was one of the recipes that we often made together. It is a very simple recipe which is easy to make with children (but please let the adult peel, core and cut the apples).

I had other plans for this recipe. Those of you who receive our monthly email will know that I made one of Mum’s apple teacakes in January for a little comfort after we got back from Australia. It was my first cake flop in about a decade. Simply, I could not give it enough time in the oven because I needed to get to a meeting. I had it scheduled to go out in a few weeks time, but decided that with all the madness and toilet paper hoarding going on at the moment, Miss M and I needed a little comfort this morning.

Mum’s apple teacake recipe

The recipe was originally found in the Australian Women’s Weekly International Cookbook from 1970. I think my parents were given it as a wedding present. Our copy is falling apart.

This is also the first time that I have made the recipe since Mum died. Actually, I think it might be the first time I have made it in a very long time. Peter does not like baked apple or cinnamon much, so there has not been any point baking it for him.

In fact, it has been so long since I made this apple teacake that I could not find my copy of the recipe. I had to get my Dad to take a photo of it and send it to me (which he happily did, of course).

The tweaks

I’ve had to tweak the recipe a little. We don’t have self-raising flour in Germany, so I have to adjust the flour accordingly. I don’t always get the flour-baking powder proportions right, but this time I did.

I use 1 packet of baking powder (equivalent to 2 teaspoons) per cup of plain flour and sift three times to make sure it was well combined. Alternatively, you can place the flour and baking powder in a bowl and whisk to combine well.

Using cocoa, buttermilk or yoghurt? “Domestic Goddess” Nigella Lawson recommends that you add 1/4 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) per cup of flour. Also, check the best before date on your baking powder as old baking powder can result in flat cakes.

I also wanted to use a larger baking pan than the recipe intended. It worked well, but it was a little flatter than I remember it – the batter had to go further. I also like generous amounts of apple and used two apples rather than just one.

Unlike many apple teacake recipes, you don’t have to pre-cook the apples. This makes the recipe quicker and easier to make. It also means that the apple retains its shape. Any pretty pattern that you lay with your apple will still be seen afterwards, like tarte tatin.

Apple teacake cupcakes

One of these days I am going to make apple teacake cupcakes. I have made them once before, but that was very long ago. Probably not even in the last decade.

The question is whether to leave them plain or whether to add frosting. If I do add frosting, what type should I add? I considered adding cinnamon frosting, but I think that would be too much with the cinnamon on the apple. Plain vanilla frosting might be too sweet in this case. I want the apples still to shine. Would they even need frosting at all?

If and when I find an answer to these questions, I promise to share the cupcake version of Mum’s apple teacake recipe, so keep your eyes out for that one!

Try some apple teacake for afternoon tea

Simple, comforting – it is a childhood favourite for a reason! Mum’s apple teacake recipe is perfect if you have any last-minute guests for afternoon tea.