Apple Spiced Sourdough Cake ( Friendship Cake)

Healthiness : (21 votes)

Difficulty:  
Comments: This is not a difficult cake to make but it does take time to get the sourdough starter ready- 10 days in fact. It is worth the wait though.
Preparation Time: 10 days for the starter, 20 mins to prepare the cake
Cooking Time: 35-45 mins
Number of servings: Makes about 20-24 pieces, it freezes well too.

This is a traditional sourdough cake. You are meant to keep it on the go, so you can make up batches when you need them. It sounds complicated but is really quite easy once you get started. Remember to keep it on the worktop for 10 days without a lid.  Cover the large mixing bowl with a clean cloth and don’t put it in the fridge.

Note: you should always bake the cake when the sourdough is 'hungry' and not when you have just added ingredients. Once you have done a 10 day cycle, provided you use the continuing starter you can divide and bake on any hungry day and then add the feed so you have enough starter for next time. If you find you have too much starter, simply cut back on the amount of feed.

It is a great cake for using up autumn windfalls too.

To make/feed the sourdough starter:

• 4oz plain flour
• 8oz granulated sugar
• 8fl oz milk

  To make the cake:

• 8oz caster sugar
• 8oz plain flour
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla essence
• 2  teaspoons cinnamon
•  2 heaped teaspoons baking powder
  
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 6 fl oz sunflower oil
• 2 cooking apples peeled, cored, chopped into chunks
• 5 oz raisins, sultanas etc
• 2 oz brown sugar to sprinkle

For the sourdough mix:

• a large mixing bowl
• clean cloth to cover
• mixing spoon
• measuring jug
• scales

For the cake:

• a large mixing bowl
• vegetable knife
• chopping board
• teaspoon
• measuring jug 
• scales
• mixing spoon
• large roasting tin, lined with baking paper

Always wash your hands before preparing food.

Day 1: To the large bowl add 4oz plain flour, 8oz granulated sugar, 8fl oz milk; stir well and cover

Day 2 and 3: Stir well and re-cover (hungry starter days)

Day 4: Feed the sourdough starter by adding: 4oz plain flour, 8oz granulated sugar, 8fl oz milk; stir well and cover

Day 5 and 6: Stir well and re-cover

Day 7: Feed the sourdough starter by adding: 4oz plain flour, 8oz granulated sugar, 8fl oz milk; stir well and cover

Day 8 and 9:  Stir well and re-cover

Day 10: Divide the starter into 4 portions, keep one portion of starter and feed it. This will make the next cake. Give 2 portions away to friends with the weblink, so they know what to do with it. (Hence the name Friendship Cake.)

1. Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 3-4/ 170-180C
2. Take the last portion and put it in a large mxing bowl
3. Add all of the cake ingredients (listed in the ingredients section)
4. Mix everything together and put into a large greaseproof/ lined roasting tin
5. Sprinkle with 2oz brown sugar and bake for 45 minutes at Gas Mark 3-4, 170-180 C.
6. Check after 35-45 minutes to see if it is done. Test with a skewer, it should come away clean if the cake is done
7. When cold, cut into fingers or cubes and store in an air-tight container. It freezes well too.

There are 6 comments for this recipe.
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Name: Marianne	17th May 2016
after feeding it how long do you have to wait til you use it

Name: Novice21	1st March 2015
Is there anyway i can cheat a starter mix? My friends are all herman out and i'd like to make a cake for my family, without the 10 day wait and split.

Name: Heather	21st August 2012
love this cake but changed the apple for carrott and sometimes banana

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