Dutch Apple Cake

This is one of my all time favourite cakes. The recipe is simple, and the cake ALWAYS comes out perfect. 

• 2 eggs
• 175g castor sugar, plus 15g extra for sprinkling
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 85g butter
• 75 ml milk
• 125g plain flour
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 small (or 1 large) cooking apples, peeled, cored & thinly sliced

1. Preheat oven to 200 C. Line sides and base of 20 x 20 cm square tin with parchment paper.
2. Using an electric whisk, whisk the eggs, castor sugar and vanilla extract in a large bowl until mixture is thick and mousse-like, and the whisk leaves a figure of 8 pattern (this will take about 5 minutes)
3. Melt the butter in a saucepan with the milk, then pour onto the eggs whisking all the time. 
4. Sift in the flour, cinnamon and baking powder and fold carefully into the batter so that there are no lumps of flour. Pour mixture into the prepared tin and smooth the surface.
5. Quickly arrange the apple slices over the batter. They might sink into the batter.
6. Sprinkle on top a tablespoon or more of sugar and bake in oven for 10 minutes , then reduce the oven temperature to 180 C and bake for further 20-25 minutes or until well risen and golden brown.
7. Remove cake from oven and allow to cool in the tin.
8. Cut into squares and serve warm with cream or custard. 

Makes 12-16 squares

Source: Rachel Allen: Bake!