PECAN CAKE WITH APPLE BITS
SERVES 4 – 6 PREP TIME 20 MINS COOKING TIME 50 MINS

INGREDIENTS
90g butter, softened slightly by leaving at room temperature
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ cup (60ml) maple syrup
½ cup (90g) chopped raisins
1 cup grated apple (preferably Granny Smith)
1 ½ cups (150g) self raising flour
¾ cup (110g) soft brown sugar
3 eggs beaten
1 cup (100g) pecans, finely chopped

METHOD
1. Brush a 20cm tube pan (or bundt tin) with softened butter. Dust with flour and tap out excess. Preheat oven to 180ºC.

2. Combine butter, sifted flour, cinnamon, sugar, syrup and eggs in a large bowl of an electric mixer. Beat at a low speed until ingredients are combined.

3. Continue beating at medium speed for 2 minutes or until mixture is smooth and lighter in colour. Stir in nuts, raisins and apple.

4. Spread mixture into prepared tin and bake for 50 minutes in moderate oven or until well risen, golden brown and when skewer, inserted in the middle, comes out clean.

5. Stand for 5 minutes before turning to cool on wire rack.