On 13 May, it’s Apple Pie Day, and what better excuse than to collaborate with Cape Town bakery SweetLionheart, to introduce the Dutoit X SLH ‘Apple Pie’ traylette—a delightful confectionery that pays homage to the classic apple pies of yesteryear. This delectable treat features layers of cinnamon-infused apple cake, homemade applesauce, whipped white chocolate ganache, and honey buttercream. It’s a delicious trip down memory lane and the perfect indulgence to bake with or for a special person this Mother’s Day.
With over 130 years of experience in growing quality fruit and vegetables, Dutoit is a company built on wholesome family values. Generations of love and dedication are behind our homegrown, South African business. Join us in celebrating the flavours of tradition and the love of family with the SLH ‘Apple Pie’.
For those who prefer not to bake, pre-order your made-to-order SLH ‘Apple Pie’ Traylette from the Sweet Lion Heart website. Pre-orders close on 11 May 2024.
Ingredients:
For the Apple Cinnamon Cake:
- Brown sugar: 1 1/2 cups (300 grams)
- Oil (canola or vegetable): 1/3 cup (80 ml)
- Egg: 1 large
- Buttermilk: 1 cup (240 ml)
- Vanilla extract: 1 teaspoon (5 ml)
- Baking soda: 1 teaspoon (5 grams)
- Cake Flour: 2 1/2 cups (312.5 grams)
- Dutoit Apples (Granny Smith or Top Red) peeled, cored, and chopped: 5 medium-sized (about 2 1/2 cups or 300 grams total once peeled and cored)
For the Cinnamon Sugar Topping:
- Sugar: 1/2 cup (100 grams)
- Cinnamon: 1 teaspoon (2.6 grams)
- Butter, melted: 1 tablespoon (14 grams)
For the Tangy Homemade Applesauce:
- Dutoit Apples (Granny Smith or Top Red), peeled, cored, and chopped: 5 medium-sized (about 300 grams total once peeled and cored)
- Water: 1/4 cup (60 ml)
- Cinnamon: 1/4 teaspoon (1.3 grams)
- Sugar: 1 tablespoon (12.5 grams)
- Apple cider vinegar: 2 tablespoons (30 ml)
- Lemon: juice of one lemon
- Pinch of salt
For the Honey Buttercream:
- Unsalted butter, softened: 1 cup (226 grams)
- Honey: 1/2 cup (120 ml)
- Sea salt: A pinch
- Powdered sugar, sifted: 2 cup (240 grams)
- Cream or milk (to adjust consistency): 1/4 cup (60 ml)
For the Whipped White Chocolate Ganache:
- White chocolate, finely chopped: 150 grams (about 5.3 ounces)
- Whipping cream, split into two portions: 450 grams total; 150 grams (about 2/3 cup) and 300 grams (about 1 1/3 cups)
For the Streusel:
- Flour: 1/2 cup (62.5 grams)
- Brown sugar: 1/2 cup (100 grams)
- Butter, cold and cubed: 1/4 cup (56 grams)
- Cinnamon: 1 teaspoon (2.6 grams)
For the Buttercream Apples (Decoration):
- 1/4 cup of your Honey Buttercream mixture above
- Red, green and brown food colouring: a few drops each
Instructions:
Cake:
- Preheat: the oven to 165°C. Grease a deep 22 x 28cm rectangular baking pan and line with baking paper.
- Prepare Batter: In a large bowl, whisk together brown sugar, oil, and egg until smooth. Add buttermilk, vanilla, and baking soda, mix well. Gradually incorporate flour until just combined. Fold in chopped apples.
- Add Topping: Combine sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter for the topping. Sprinkle over the batter.
- Bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean. Let cool completely in the tin (you will be assembling the bake in the baking tray).
Homemade Applesauce:
- Cook Apples: Combine chopped apples, water, cinnamon, sugar, salt, lemon and apple cider vinegar in a saucepan. Simmer over medium heat until the apples are very soft and mushy, about 15-20 minutes.
- Mash or Blend: Mash the apples with a fork or blend to achieve a smooth sauce consistency.
Honey Buttercream:
- Prepare Honey Butter: Beat the softened butter with honey and a pinch of sea salt until creamy and smooth. Gradually add sifted powdered sugar, beat until smooth. Add cream or milk as needed to achieve a spreadable consistency.
Whipped White Chocolate Ganache:
- Part one | Heat Cream: In a saucepan, bring your cream (150g) to a simmer. Pour the cream over the chopped white chocolate in a bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes, then stir until smooth.Weigh the total amount of ganache (should be about 300g) and add an equal amount of cold cream to the mixture (about 300g of cream).Use a stick blender to emulsify and get it 100% smooth. Contact wrap with cling film and store in the fridge overnight.
- Part two | Whip: Just when you are ready to assemble your tray bake, pour your chilled ganache into a bowl and with a whisk whip until soft peaks (DO NOT OVERWHIP). Use immediately.
Streusel:
- Mix Ingredients: Combine flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs
- Bake: Spread the streusel on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in the preheated oven to 165°C for about 10-15 minutes, or until it is golden brown and crispy. Stir occasionally to ensure even baking.
- Cool: Allow the streusel to cool completely. It will harden as it cools, creating crunchy bits that can be sprinkled between layers or on top of the cake.
Assembly:
- First Layer: Working in your baking tray, keep the cooled cake as the base.
- Second Layer: Spread the homemade apple sauce evenly over the cake (feel free to use as much of the sauce you made – some people like a thin spread, others a thick lashing!).
- Third Layer: Tip out and spread the whipped white chocolate ganache evenly across the bake.
- Fourth Layer: Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the ganache.
- Fifth Layer: Cover the top with a layer of honey buttercream. Even out with an off-set spatula.
- Decoration: Pipe small buttercream apples and leaves on top using the red, green and brown coloured buttercream.
- Serve & Enjoy!
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About Dutoit Apples
Every year, at just the right time, our apple orchards at Dutoit glow a little rosier than usual. Each tree’s branches spread out proudly, almost like they know the delicious sweetness they carry.
With over 130 years of experience in growing quality fruit and vegetables, Dutoit Agri is a company built on wholesome family values. Generations of love and dedication are behind our homegrown, South African business.
It takes 6 years of sunshine, healthy soil, pure mountain water and agricultural progression for an apple tree to reach full production. Fortunately for us, the cool Cape winter air slows down the ripening process, concentrating colours, flavours and aromas. We operate in harmony with our environment and have a deep commitment to upholding the biodiversity of our region.
Gently picked by hand, the Dutoit apple undertakes an epic journey from the orchard to the pack house. Once it meets the high standards of sorting and selection, it is ready to be shipped to every corner of South Africa as well as to our partners around the globe.
Our mission is to produce, pack, market and distribute quality fresh produce in a sustainable manner.
Dutoit apples are produced with love and care on our farms in the Western and Eastern Cape and enjoyed all over the world.
We know our dedication always shows.
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