Spiced Apple and Hazelnut Cake with Baklava Crumble
Photography by Josh Griggs.
Packed with aromatic spices, nuts, honey and fruit, there’s a lot to like about this cake. We then decided to go for total indulgence and top it with dulce de leche – the choice is yours.
INGREDIENTS
5 large eggs, size 7, separated
250 grams butter, at room temperature
200 grams runny honey (I used a floral honey)
⅓ cup plain yoghurt or sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1⅓ cups plain flour
120 grams hazelnuts, roasted and finely ground
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon each ground cardamom, cinnamon and ginger
1 red apple, peeled and diced
1 small red apple, skin left on, cored and thinly sliced,
purchased dulche de leche, to serve (optional)
Crumble
¼ cup plain flour
¼ cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon each ground cinnamon and ginger
½ teaspoon ground mixed spice
50 grams butter, diced
¼ cup finely chopped hazelnuts
You’ll need...
a 20cm springform cake tin. Grease and line the base and sides with baking paper, bringing the paper 4cm above the rim of the tin
METHOD
Preheat the oven to 160°C fan bake.
Crumble: Combine all the ingredients, except the hazelnuts, in a bowl. Rub the butter in with your fingertips to form damp, coarse crumbs. Add the hazelnuts and mix well then chill until ready to cook.
Cake: Place the egg whites and yolks in two separate large bowls.
Beat the egg yolks, butter, honey, yoghurt or sour cream and vanilla extract together until smooth. The mixture may look curdled, but that’s fine.
Combine the flour, hazelnuts, baking powder and all the spices then fold into the egg yolk mixture along with the diced red apple.
Beat the egg whites to stiff peaks. In 3 batches, use a large metal spoon to gently but thoroughly fold into the batter. Pour the batter into the tin and arrange the red apple slices on top with their skin facing up.
Scatter over the crumble. Bake for about 70-75 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Leave in the tin for 30 minutes then remove and place on a cooling rack to cool completely.
If using, drizzle generously with dulce de leche to serve. Makes 1 cake

Keep up to date with
dish weekly recipes,
food news, and events.
latest issue:
Issue #121
As winter arrives, so does the latest issue of dish! With over 60 recipes this edition features seasonal produce like pumpkin, leeks and silverbeet whipped into delicious dinners. Pasta takes centre-stage in 5 outrageously tasty recipes, then we break out the slow cooker and amp up the comfort with cozy roasts and braises. Winter wouldn’t be the same without a hearty pie or two, and we have a selection – from Beef Cheek Pot Pie to Moroccan Shepherd’s Pie. Food Fast has your speedy weeknight dinners covered then Melie brings the magic with inventive chicken dishes while Olivia’s baking and desserts will brighten the even the coldest days.