Blackberry and apple sponge

Just like Granny used to make, a sponge cake made with seasonal apples and blackberries

Blackberry and apple sponge

SERVES

10

PEOPLE

PREP TIME

10

MINUTES

COOKING TIME

25

MINUTES

Ingredients

  • 675g new season’s cooking apples

  • 110-175g blackberries

  • 1Ā tbsp water

  • 85-110g sugar

  • 2 sweet geranium leaves

  • For the topping:

  • 55g butter

  • 55g sugar

  • 1 egg, beaten

  • 85g self-raising flour, sieved

  • 1-2Ā tbsp milk

  • 1 pie dish (900ml capacity)

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 200°C.

  2. Peel, core and slice the apples and put them in a heavy saucepan with the water, sugar and sweet geranium leaves. Cover and stew them gently until just half-cooked, then add the blackberries at the last minute. Allow to cool a little, then tip into a buttered pie dish.

  3. Cream the butter until soft, add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy.

  4. Add the beaten egg by degrees and beat well until completely incorporated.

  5. Sieve the flour and fold into the butter and egg mixture. Add about 1 tablespoon of milk or enough to bring the mixture to dropping consistency. Spread this mixture gently over the fruit.

  6. Bake in the oven for about 25 minutes, or until the sponge mixture is firm to the touch in the centre. Sprinkle with caster sugar. Serve warm with home made custard or lightly whipped cream.

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