Mini apple and almond cakes recipe
 Mary's mini apple cake recipe could be served warm as a dinner party dessert or cold as a delicious picnic treat. Equipment and preparation: for this recipe you will need six 7cm/2¾in cooking rings. 75g/2¾oz butter, melted, plus extra for greasing100g/3½oz self-raising flour, plus extra for dusting100g/3½oz caster sugar1 free-range egg, beaten ½ tsp almond extract60g/2¼oz Bramley apples, peeled and thinly sliced 15g/½oz flaked almondscrème fraîche, to serve (optional) 75g/2¾oz butter, melted, plus extra for greasing 100g/3½oz self-raising flour, plus extra for dusting 100g/3½oz caster sugar 1 free-range egg, beaten ½ tsp almond extract 60g/2¼oz Bramley apples, peeled and thinly sliced 15g/½oz flaked almonds crème fraîche, to serve (optional) Method Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4. Grease the inside of the cooking rings with a little butter and dust with flour. Arrange the cooking rings on a baking sheet lined with baking paper.Pour the melted butter into a large bowl. Add the sugar, flour, egg and almond extract and mix together until combined.Spoon a little of the mixture into the base of each ring, arrange some of the apple slices over the batter and spoon the remaining cake mixture on top, levelling with the back of a teaspoon.Scatter each cake with flaked almonds. Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until well risen and golden-brown. Set aside to cool for about 10 minutes before removing the rings. Serve warm with a dollop of crème fraîche. Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4. Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4. Grease the inside of the cooking rings with a little butter and dust with flour. Arrange the cooking rings on a baking sheet lined with baking paper. Grease the inside of the cooking rings with a little butter and dust with flour. Arrange the cooking rings on a baking sheet lined with baking paper. Pour the melted butter into a large bowl. Add the sugar, flour, egg and almond extract and mix together until combined. Pour the melted butter into a large bowl. Add the sugar, flour, egg and almond extract and mix together until combined. Spoon a little of the mixture into the base of each ring, arrange some of the apple slices over the batter and spoon the remaining cake mixture on top, levelling with the back of a teaspoon. Spoon a little of the mixture into the base of each ring, arrange some of the apple slices over the batter and spoon the remaining cake mixture on top, levelling with the back of a teaspoon. Scatter each cake with flaked almonds. Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until well risen and golden-brown. Scatter each cake with flaked almonds. Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until well risen and golden-brown. Set aside to cool for about 10 minutes before removing the rings. Serve warm with a dollop of crème fraîche. Set aside to cool for about 10 minutes before removing the rings. Serve warm with a dollop of crème fraîche. Recipe tips Tip 1: If you don’t have cooking rings you can make your own using small (200g/7oz) baked bean tins. Remove the top and bottom of each tin and grease with butter and dust with flour, taking care with the sharp edges, before filling with the cake mixture. Alternatively, you could use any straight-sided bun tins with a loose bottom. Tip 2: It is important to weigh all the ingredients accurately or a dip may appear in the top of the cakes due to the moisture in the apple. Tip 3: These can be made in advance and stored in an airtight tin for 3 days. The cooked cakes also freeze well.