Apple and walnut pull-apart

This delicious, easy-to-make treat is made for sharing, and best eaten on the day it’s made. Have a few paper towels at the ready as the caramel topping makes for one of those ‘sticky fingers’ moments!

The dough is reminiscent of a scone mixture and is complemented nicely with the sweetness of the apple. You can vary the recipe by adding raisins or other dried fruit of your choice. Mix in about a ¼ of a cup with the apple mixture and let sit for half an hour to absorb some of the moisture.

Apple and walnut pull-apart

Ingredients:
300g (10.5oz) self raising flour
30g (1oz) butter
1 cup (250ml) milk
65g (2.3 oz) brown sugar
400g (14 oz) can diced apples
pinch nutmeg
½ teaspoon cinnamon

Caramel:
60ml (1/4 cup) cream
20g (.7 oz) butter
100g (3.5oz) brown sugar
30g (1 oz) walnuts, chopped

To make:

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees C (400 degreesF) and grease a 23cm (9 inch) round cake tin – a springform works really well for this.

2. Sift the flour into a mixing bowl and rub in the butter.

3. Mix in enough milk to create a soft, slightly sticky dough.

4. Turn dough onto a well floured surface and knead until smooth.

5. Roll dough out into a rectangle shape approximately 21cm x 40cm (8 inch x 15 inch).

Click to enlarge

6. Mix brown sugar, apples, nutmeg and cinnamon in a bowl then spread over the dough leaving a 3cm (1.1 inch) edge.

7. Roll dough up, similar to a Swiss roll (see right).

8. Cut the dough into 12 even slices. A floured, serrated knife works best for this.

9. Place 11 slices upright around the edge of the prepared cake tin and the last slice on its side in the middle (see image below).

Click to enlarge

This stage can be a little messy, with some of the mixture falling out. Just spoon it in and around the dough so you don’t miss out on any of the yummy filling.

10.Cook in oven for approximately 25 minutes or until golden brown.

11. When cooked, let the pull-apart stand for a minute before turning out onto a wire rack.

12. Brush caramel mixture over pull-apart while still hot so the caramel coats the dough nicely.

13. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts and transfer to serving plate.

To make caramel:
Mix together the cream, butter and brown sugar in a small saucepan and stir over a medium heat until brown sugar is fully dissolved. Continue stirring and allow mixture to simmer on a low heat for a further 2-3 minutes or until it starts to thicken. Keep a close eye on the caramel. Do not let it boil.