Spiced apple cider cake

Method

• step 1

  Butter a 20cm round cake tin and line with baking parchment. Pour the cider into a saucepan, bring to the boil and boil rapidly for 10 mins until reduced to about 100ml, or by about half. Cool. Combine the spices, reserving 1 tsp of the mix for the icing. Mix the rest with the flour, baking powder and a pinch of salt.

• step 2

  Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Beat the butter and sugar together in a stand mixer or using an electric whisk until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well between each addition. Mix in the vanilla, yogurt and 75ml of the reduced cider. Finally, fold in the flour mixture and apples until no streaks of flour remain. Spoon into the prepared tin and smooth the surface. Bake for 55 mins-1 hr, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin for 20 mins, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Once completely cool, the cake can be wrapped and frozen for up to three months. Defrost completely before icing and serving as below.

• step 3

  When the cake has cooled, whisk the remaining 25ml reduced cider with the icing sugar and reserved spice mix until smooth, adding a splash of water if needed to make a thick, drizzly icing. Spoon this over the cake, letting it drip down the side. Sprinkle over the chopped pecans, in a ring if you like, and leave the icing to set before serving. Will keep in an airtight container in a cool place for up three days.