I normally like to bake Todd something special at the weekend. Usually it is a cake, but we already had some cake in. (I bought a lemon loaf at Costco on Thursday.)
I thought maybe some muffins or squares. Then I picked up this book and went looking through. Its a cookbook I picked up at Marks & Spencer a while back. The recipes in it always turn out. So far not a dud in the bunch.
I did have rather a lot of dessert apples so when I spied the recipe for Upside-down Toffee Apple Brownies, I thought to myself *DING *DING * DING this is it! Todd loves apple anything! Dessert apples are sweet eating apples, that you might eat out of hand. Think Red Delicious, Pink Ladies, Gala, Fuji, Honey Crisp or Golden Delicious! All are great Dessert Apples. I had Pink Ladies.
The recipe starts out much as an upside down cake would, with you melting butter and brown sugar together. In this case light muscovado sugar.
Muscovado has a higher molasses count than regular brown sugar, but if you can't find muscovado use brown sugar. Or you could add 1 TBS of molasses to the mix. The sugar and butter mixture gets poured over the bottom of the pan and then you lay sliced apples evenly over top.
The batter is a simple one. Again, butter and muscavado sugar are creamed together. Some eggs get beaten in, and then a mixture of flour, baking powder and baking soda are stirred in, along with some ground mixed spice.
Don't worry, I have actually attached my recipe for making your own mixed spice right to my recipe this time!
Once that is all mixed together you fold in some grated eating apples and chopped toasted hazelnuts! That's it.
Spread that over the apples in the pan and bake!
The end result is an incredibly moist and chewy cake type of brownie. So tasty warm with a hot cuppa, or if you wanted to turn it into dessert a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream would also go very nicely.
Yield: 9
Author: Marie Rayner
Upside-down Toffee Apple Brownies
prep time: cook time: total time:
All the flavours of a Toffee Apple in a brownie. Wonderful served warm with a hot cuppa or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
ingredients:
For the Toffee Apple Topping:
- 85g light muscavado sugar (can use brown sugar) (1/3 cup packed)
- 55g butter (1/4 cup)
- 1 dessert apple, cored and thinly sliced
For the Brownie Base:
- 115g butter, plus extra for buttering pan (1/2 cup)
- 175g light muscavado sugar (can use light brown) (3/4 cup packed plus 1 1/2 TBS)
- 2 large free range eggs, beaten
- 210g plain flour (1 1/2 cup)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1 1/2 tsp ground mixed spice
- 2 eating apples, peeled and coarsely grated
- 85g chopped toasted hazelnuts (1/2 cup)
instructions:
How to cook Upside-down Toffee Apple Brownies
- Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4. Butter a 9 inch square non-stick baking tin well. Set aside.
- Melt the butter and sugar for the topping together in a small saucepan. Pour into the prepared baking tin. Arrange the apple sliced decoratively over the bottom of the tin on top of the toffee sauce.
- Beat the butter and sugar for the brownie together until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs a bit at a time to incorporate. Sift together the flour, soda, baking powder, and spice. Stir into the creamed mixture until combined. Stir in the apples and nuts. Spread over the apples in the baking tin. (I find that what works best is to apply 6 large dollops evenly spaced and then to spread the dollops out.)
- Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, until firm and golden brown. Cool in the tin for 10 minutes prior to tipping out onto a square platter. Cut into squares to serve.
NOTES:
Make Your Own Mixed Spice:
You can easily make your own mixed spice: Combine 1 TBS ground cinnamon, 1 tsp each of ground coriander and nutmeg, 1/2 tsp of ground ginger, 1/4 tsp each of ground cloves and all spice. Mix well and store in an airtight container out of the light for up to 6 months.
You can easily make your own mixed spice: Combine 1 TBS ground cinnamon, 1 tsp each of ground coriander and nutmeg, 1/2 tsp of ground ginger, 1/4 tsp each of ground cloves and all spice. Mix well and store in an airtight container out of the light for up to 6 months.
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Todd was very happy with this bake. He scarfed down two of them right away. I don't know how he stays so thin. We are like Jack Sprat and his Wife! Never mind . . . we are who we are. I hope you will try these delicious apple brownies. I think you will be well pleased with them!
PS - After one session with the Chiropractor my back feels at least 50% better. I can't wait for my next few sessions. I bet I will soon be feeling better than I have in years! I highly recommend!