Ingredients
- 250g (9oz) butter
- 250ml (9fl oz) Guinness or other stout
- 85g (3½oz) good-quality cocoa
- 350g (12oz) caster sugar
- 150g (5oz) Greek yogurt
- 2 large, free-range eggs
- 1tbsp vanilla extract
- 275g (9½oz) plain flour
- 2½tsp bicarbonate of soda
For the port poached apple
:
- 300ml (½pt) ruby port
- 50g (2oz) caster sugar
- 1 firm dessert apple, peeled
For the filling and topping
:
- 600g (1lb 5oz) full-fat Philadelphia cream cheese
- 300g (10oz) icing sugar
You will need
:
- 23cm (9in) loose-bottomed cake tin, oiled and bottom lined
Method
Heat the oven to 180 C, 160 C fan, 350 F, gas 4. For the cake, melt the butter with the Guinness, remove from the heat; whisk in the cocoa and sugar. Beat the yogurt, eggs and vanilla, stir into the Guinness mix; stir through the flour and bicarb. Transfer to the tin and cook in the centre of the oven for 50 minutes to 1 hour, until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then turn out on to a wire rack.
For the apples, heat the port and sugar in a pan with 300ml (½pt) water. When the sugar has melted, add the apple and simmer gently for 30 minutes, turning now and again. Remove the apple, leave to cool, turn the heat up and reduce rapidly until you have a thick syrup. Slice the apple thinly, removing the core; leave the syrup to cool. Beat the Philadelphia with the icing sugar.
To assemble, cut the cake in half horizontally. Spread half the cream cheese mix on to the base, replace the top half, top with remaining cream cheese and arrange the apple slices in a circle. Pour over a little port syrup, and serve the rest on the side. The cake will keep in the fridge for 2 days – only top with apples and syrup at the very last minute. The un-iced cake can be frozen.
Rebecca Smith was a Food Writer for Woman & Home and during her time with the magazine she was responsible for bringing an impressive array of mouth-watering recipes to womanandhome.com. These recipes ranged from slow-cooked Shoulder of Lamb and Hot Water Crust Ham Hock Pies, to sweet treats such as a delectable Chocolate Brownie Cake and intricate Pistachio and Rose Water cake.
Following her work with Woman & Home, Rebecca went on to become the Deputy Editor at Delicious Magazine.
-
Christmas Cake Tray Bake
For a quick and easy alternative to Christmas cake, try out this Christmas Cake Tray Bake. It's packed with all the delicious fruit you'd expect and is so quick!
By Samuel Goldsmith Published
-
Gluten free chocolate cake
By Rose Fooks Published
-
Chocolate and hazelnut roulade
This chocolate and hazelnut roulade comes with an optional Baileys Irish cream liqueur filling for an extra, festive twist
By Jen Bedloe Published
-
Chocolate and hazelnut roulade
This chocolate and hazelnut roulade comes with an optional Baileys Irish cream liqueur filling for an extra, festive twist
By Jen Bedloe Published
-
Baileys Cheesecake
This no-bake Baileys cheesecake is so easy to make and perfect for cream liqueur lovers, plus it takes just 40 minutes to prepare
By Jess Meyer Published
-
Chocolate torte with Baileys cream and salted praline
Serve this rich Chocolate torte with Baileys cream and salted praline for a festive dessert that makes a popular alternative to Christmas pudding
By Jen Bedloe Published
-
Reese Witherspoon goes picnic chic in frilly blue gingham with timeless jeans
Reese's latest Instagram video features sweet blue gingham and classic blue denim
By Caitlin Elliott Published
-
Carey Mulligan hailed as 'an icon' after incredible Jaffa Cake moment
It's clear Carey Mulligan appreciates the importance of good snacks
By Lauren Hughes Published
-
Pippa Middleton's red mini dress, matching ballet flats and wicker handbag combination was just so picnic chic
Pippa has left us heart-eyed with so many of her gorgeous style moments over the years
By Caitlin Elliott Published