Cider Cake

Back in 1887 many Worcestershire residents would visit their neighbouring county of Herefordshire where every year a Cider Festival would take place and part of the celebrations would include a spicy cider cake.

Here is the traditional recipe. If you would really like to give it a twist and make an extremely unusual cider cake, then try grating 120g/ 4oz of cheese and sprinkle it into the centre of the cake before baking, giving you the classic combination of apple and cheese.

Pre-heat oven to 180ºC or 350ºF gas mark 4

125g/ 4oz butter or margarine
125g/ 4oz sugar
2 beaten eggs
225g/ 8oz self raising flour sifted
1tsp. Bicarbonate of soda
½ tsp. grated nutmeg or powdered cinnamon
200ml/ 7floz cider
Caster sugar for sprinkling

1) cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy and bet in the eggs
2) fold in half of the four, bicarb and the nutmeg or cinnamon
3) pour the cider into the mixture and mix well
4) stir in the remaining flour
5) pour the mixture into a greased shallow tin, about 5 x 8 inches, 20 x13 cm and bake in the pre-heated oven for 35-40 minutes
6) cut into squares when cool and sprinkle with caster sugar