Apples and caramel are a heavenly combination. It brings back memories of fairs and fireworks. In this cake, which could almost pass for dessert, the flavours come through beautifully. Best served warm, with a generous blob of caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream if you like.

For the cake

For the caramel sauce

To serve

• Preheat the oven to 160 degrees fan oven. Grease the bottom of a springform cake tin (22 cm diameter) with butter and line with baking paper. In a food processor, cream the butter with the sugar until pale in colour.
• Sift flour, cinnamon, ginger and baking powder into a separate bowl. Gradually add the eggs to the butter mixture, stirring well in between and adding 1 tablespoon of the flour mixture at a time. Once the flour is fully incorporated, add the ground almonds and sultanas and continue stirring until everything is combined. Add the chopped apples and stir in with a wooden spoon. Pour the dough into the prepared mould and place the apple slices on top in a circle.
• Bake in the oven for 1 hour until a pierced skewer comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then remove the ring from the springform tin and place the cake on a cooling rack to cool.
• For the caramel sauce, heat the double cream in a saucepan over a low heat. Add butter and sugar and stir until everything is liquid and smooth, do not allow to boil. Then add sugar syrup and molasses and mix well.
• Serve the cake with the hot caramel sauce and a generous dollop of vanilla ice cream.