Lumberjack Cake

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"The Lumberjack Cake is so-called by Canadian lumberjacks because it helps keep the hunger pangs at bay till lunch."
This is one of the reasons I found on the internet for the name of this cake. It's also claimed as an Australian and New Zealand recipe - so who knows?

 I wanted something to fill some hungry men who'd helped me by putting up my new side gate. They all love sweet cakes and pudds, so this recipe seemed just the thing. It's more of a dessert than a cake to have with with a cuppa - too sticky.

2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, and finely chopped - about 400g
200g chopped dates
1 tspn bicarb
250ml boiling water
125g butter
1 tspn vanilla extract
210g caster sugar
1 large egg
180g plain flour

Topping:
60g Butter
8 tbspn milk
110g soft brown sugar
60g dessicated coconut


Preheat the oven to 180C /gas 4. Grease and line a 23cm spring form cake tin.

Mix together the apple, dates, bicarb and boiling water. Cover with cling film and leave till just warm.

Beat butter, vanilla and sugar till white and creamy; beat in the egg and fold in the flour . Add the apple mixture and mix together.
Spoon into the cake tin and bake for 40-50 mins.

For the topping;

Put the butter, milk, brown sugar and coconut in a pan and stir over a low heat till butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved.

Take the cake out of the oven, pour over the coconut topping and bake for another 30 mins. Let the cake cool in the tin.



It's a sticky, moist cake - somebody describes it as 'squidgy' and that's a perfect description. You have this moist, sticky layer at the bottom and the lovely chewy caramelised, coconut layer on top. I have to admit that it's very sweet. My male helpers loved it, and it soon disappeared!

Comments

Suelle said…
I like the idea of this a lot; it seems like a cake version of a sticky toffee pudding with the caramel topping baked on! Lovely! Adding an apple makes it healthy, of course! ;)
5/9/16 12:58 pm
Snowy said…
Of course! One of our 5 a day!
6/9/16 5:22 am
Phil in the Kitchen said…
I've heard of this cake but I've never tried making it. It does look very indulgent and reassuringly sticky. Definitely one to remember. I've never been entirely convinced about the origins of the name, though.
11/9/16 4:07 pm
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