Dorset Apple Cake

Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4. Grease a 23cm round cake pan and line with parchment paper.

Core and chop the apples into roughly 1cm pieces and toss them in the lemon juice to prevent browning.

Cream the butter and sugar together in a large mixing bowl until pale and fluffy. Beat the eggs and gradually add them to the sugar and butter mixture, whisking thoroughly between each addition. If the mixture starts to curdle, add a tablespoon of the flour. Whisk in the ground almonds and salt. Sift over the flour and baking powder, then fold them into the mixture until fully combined.

Drain the apple pieces and add them to the batter, along with the lemon zest, and fold through until the apple is evenly distributed. Pour into the prepared pan, smooth over the top with a palette knife and scatter over an even layer of demerara sugar.

Bake in the preheated oven for 1-1¼ hours, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Leave the cake to cool completely in its pan on top of a wire rack before turning out.