Sweets

apple mava cake

It is the end of October and the talk everywhere is pumpkins while I am still at apples, and secretly thinking berries.  And if you were to season-type me, I would definitely show up as summer.  Embracing Fall does happen……eventually….and I come around to appreciating all the gifts of the season.  Fruit trees festooned with apples and pears, the earthy colors on leaves bringing words like flame orange, dusty yellows and burnt sienna to mind, deep breaths of crisp morning air and sunsets from my kitchen window, with a sky aglow with shades of blue gently merging into gold.

And I get to bake more often.  My kind of cakes…simple with some fruit and a spice or two…or three 🙂  If you happen to see the other cakes on the blog, you will know that I have a thing for tea cakes. Ones I can just pick up and munch on, while having my afternoon cup of tea or coffee….a precious time not to be messed with 🙂  And although a piece of cake on the side has now become an occasional indulgence, it is a special time when it does appear.

I was getting ready to make a fresh batch of Mava for some Diwali sweets and needed to use up some that I still had in the freezer, so I thought of my favorite mava cake.  This time though, I wanted to add something extra in keeping with the season and hence this cake.  If you haven’t had a mava cake before, can I nudge you to try it at least once?  I am looking for suitable adjectives to describe a cake that is dense, pound cake-like, just sweet enough, has milk boiled down until almost solid and wonderfully caramelized, hints of cardamom and is rich, smooth and buttery and good…..so good!

I added some grated apple to this cake which makes it really moist without being mushy.  Then dressed it up with some thinly sliced apples fanned on top.  I used Sweetango apples which are quite crisp and juicy but you can use other varieties too.  Try to use the most fragrant apples you can find though…even it means having to sniff the apples at the grocery store:)  I also did a mix of all purpose and almond flours this time around and reduced the amount of butter.  You can make it completely with all-purpose flour but make sure to increase the amount of butter to 6 tbsp.

So as the temperatures start to dip, I hope you brew yourself a fresh cup of tea or coffee, grab a slice of this cake and treat yourself to some ‘me’ time!

Apple Mava Cake

Print recipe

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup almond flour
1/8 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking powder
8-10 cardamoms to give approx. 1/2 tsp cardamom powder
3/4 cup mava, room temperature (My recipe for mava is here and here)
3 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar + 1/2 tbsp raw sugar
2 eggs
1 cup grated apples (approx. 1 medium apple)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease a loaf pan and cover bottom with parchment paper.  I used a 10 x 4 pan but a 8 x 5 or 9 x 4 pan will work just as well.

Mix the all-purpose flour, almond flour, salt, baking powder and cardamom.  Sieve it once to get rid of any lumps.

Cream the butter, sugar and mava for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy.  Since I used raw sugar, I pulsed it in a blender a few times.  This is helpful especially if your blades are coated with plastic.  Raw sugar acted like sandpaper on mine….now I am wiser:)

Add the eggs, one at a time until well mixed.

Add the flour mixture in 2-3 instalments and mix just until the flour disappears.  The batter will be quite stiff.

Stir in the grated  apples and stir well.

Transfer to the greased pan and smooth top.  Arrange the sliced apples in any pattern.

Sprinkle 1/2 tbsp of raw sugar on top.

Bake at 350 degrees F for about an hour.  It might take a little less or more time depending on your oven so start checking at about 50 mins.  Test the center of loaf with a skewer to make sure the cake is baked all the way through.

Cool for ten minutes in pan and then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

Slice and enjoy!

*  This cake is just sweet enough but if you prefer your cakes on the sweeter side, you can increase the sugar to 1 cup.

Yum

You Might Also Like

  • baker in disguise
    October 31, 2015 at 2:14 pm

    I was just thinking of making some mawa cake..only thing I'd probably be buying the mawa..unlike miss domestic goddess you!! if you were close by I'd ask you to send some across..

    As for me..I am a fall/winter kind of person..cold, crispy weather, warm cosy food, cakes et al..:)
    xx Sarvani.

  • baker in disguise
    October 31, 2015 at 2:14 pm

    I was just thinking of making some mawa cake..only thing I'd probably be buying the mawa..unlike miss domestic goddess you!! if you were close by I'd ask you to send some across..

    As for me..I am a fall/winter kind of person..cold, crispy weather, warm cosy food, cakes et al..:)
    xx Sarvani.

  • Bina
    October 31, 2015 at 2:16 pm

    Trust me, if I had easy access to mava like you, I would be buying it too!!! And yes….I would happily send some across 🙂

    Take care:)

  • Bina
    October 31, 2015 at 2:16 pm

    Trust me, if I had easy access to mava like you, I would be buying it too!!! And yes….I would happily send some across 🙂

    Take care:)

  • Cris Mis
    November 5, 2015 at 1:46 pm

    Hello, this looks so wonderful. Could you share a gluten free option? Which flour would you recommend instead of the all-purpose ( and starch free) Thanks so much! can't wait to try it !

  • Cris Mis
    November 5, 2015 at 1:46 pm

    Hello, this looks so wonderful. Could you share a gluten free option? Which flour would you recommend instead of the all-purpose ( and starch free) Thanks so much! can't wait to try it !

  • Bina
    November 5, 2015 at 1:49 pm

    Thank you 🙂 I wish I knew of a gluten-free option that is starch-free …..I would think any flour that you normally use for your gluten-free baking should work. The only thing that comes to mind is that you should avoid strong tasting flours since they would overpower the delicate taste of the apples and mava. Hope this helps

  • Bina
    November 5, 2015 at 1:49 pm

    Thank you 🙂 I wish I knew of a gluten-free option that is starch-free …..I would think any flour that you normally use for your gluten-free baking should work. The only thing that comes to mind is that you should avoid strong tasting flours since they would overpower the delicate taste of the apples and mava. Hope this helps

  • Anonymous
    November 8, 2015 at 7:34 pm

    This cake looks just amazing and delicious. I wonder how well they keep? I was hoping to try this recipe and send to my brother in Philadelphia. Do you think it would stay fresh for 3 – 4 days?

  • Anonymous
    November 8, 2015 at 7:34 pm

    This cake looks just amazing and delicious. I wonder how well they keep? I was hoping to try this recipe and send to my brother in Philadelphia. Do you think it would stay fresh for 3 – 4 days?

  • Bina
    November 8, 2015 at 7:43 pm

    Thank you 🙂 Because of the fresh apple slices on top, I am a bit hesitant to say it would be fine for 3-4 days. Maybe you could try topping it with some dried apple slices…the kind you get by the raisins and other dried fruits. You can email me if you have any other questions 🙂

  • Bina
    November 8, 2015 at 7:43 pm

    Thank you 🙂 Because of the fresh apple slices on top, I am a bit hesitant to say it would be fine for 3-4 days. Maybe you could try topping it with some dried apple slices…the kind you get by the raisins and other dried fruits. You can email me if you have any other questions 🙂

  • kankana
    November 12, 2015 at 5:27 pm

    I always wanted to go apple picking and never got a chance. Hopefully someday in future. That cake sounds quite YUM!

  • kankana
    November 12, 2015 at 5:27 pm

    I always wanted to go apple picking and never got a chance. Hopefully someday in future. That cake sounds quite YUM!

  • Bina
    November 12, 2015 at 5:39 pm

    Thanks Kankana! I haven't been apple picking in an orchard for many years now. The apple trees in the picture are in a friend's backyard 🙂

    I like this cake a lot …especially with a cup of masala chai:)

  • Bina
    November 12, 2015 at 5:39 pm

    Thanks Kankana! I haven't been apple picking in an orchard for many years now. The apple trees in the picture are in a friend's backyard 🙂

    I like this cake a lot …especially with a cup of masala chai:)