This toffee apple cake was created for Craft Gin Club by the fabulous Gin Baker and is rich, dense and wonderfully moist (thanks to the addition of apple). Subtly spiced with cinnamon and sweet with honey, the cake is balanced with an incredibly light buttercream icing, while the boozy, gin-spiked caramel is unctuous and completely addictive (try not to eat it all before drizzling it over the cake!).

Although there are lots of elements and ingredients to this cake, it is incredibly easy to make and will leave every who tries it speechless. So basically, you have to make this cake. Agreed? Good!

Toffee Apple Cake with Boozy Caramel

For the cake:
250 g Caster Sugar
250 g Unsalted Butter
5 Eggs, beaten
250 g Self Raising Flour
1.5 tsp of Baking Powder
2 tbsp Honey
1 tbsp Cinnamon
2 apples, peeled, cored and chopped
Juice of 1 Lemon
20ml gin (we used Warner Edwards Honeybee Gin, for added notes of honey)

For the Simple Syrup:
75g Brown Sugar
Juice of 1 Lemon
20ml Warner Edwards Honeybee Gin

For the Caramel Sauce:
200g Caster Sugar
90g Salted Butter
120ml Double Cream
30ml Warner Edwards Honeybee Gin

For the Caramel Buttercream:
300g Unsalted Butter
600g Icing Sugar
2 tbsp Honey
2tbsp Gin Caramel Sauce

For decoration:
Caramel Fudge Chunks (optional)

Preparation: 50 mins
Baking time: 30 minutes
Serves: 8-10 people

1) Preheat the oven to 180C, fan 160C. Grease and line 2 23cm loose-bottomed round sandwich tins. 

2) Start by making your gin spiked Caramel sauce by heating the caster sugar in a medium saucepan over a medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. The sugar will clump before melting into a thick brown, amber-coloured liquid as you continue to stir. 

3) Once the sugar is melted, immediately add the butter. Stir the butter into the caramel using a whisk until it is completely melted and smooth. Slowly add the double cream whilst stirring and then allow the mixture to boil for 1 minute before removing from the heat. stir in the Honeybee Gin and then allow to cool before using. 

4) To make the cake, start by tossing the apple pieces in the lemon juice and gin and then put to one side. In a large bowl, beat the soft butter and sugar until the mixture is pale and fluffy. Gradually add the eggs, one by one, ensuring they are well combined after each addition. Fold in the flour, baking powder, honey and cinnamon. 

5) Drain the apple pieces and stir the apple into the mixture. Divide the cake mixture equally between the tins and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown or until a skewer placed in the middle comes out clean. Once baked, remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tins for 10 minutes before turning out onto cooling racks. 

6) Whilst the cakes are cooling, make the simple syrup by adding all the ingredients to a saucepan and setting over a medium heat. Bring to a boil and then turn down the heat and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. 

7) Once the syrup and cakes have cooled, poke holes into the cakes using a skewer and then drizzle over the syrup. 

8) To make the butter icing, add the butter, icing sugar, honey and cooled caramel sauce to a free-stand mixer and mix until creamy and smooth. 

9) To assemble, spread the buttercream icing evenly over the top of one of the cakes before spooning over some of the caramel sauce, then top with the other cake. Spread the rest of the buttercream icing over the top of the cake and then even out using a spatula. Spoon over the remaining caramel sauce and then decorate with the caramel fudge chunks. 

You can make the caramel sauce in advance, but once cooked, make sure it is covered tightly and it can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. The buttercream icing should be made on the day of serving. This cake is best enjoyed on the day it is assembled but will keep for 2-3 days in an airtight container.