Recipe: Gluten free version of Not Quite Nigella’s Lumberjack cake with maple butterscotch coconut topping

I am an avid reader of Not Quite Nigella’s blog, all her recipes and adventures look amazing, to tell you the truth I envy her and her adventures. However up until now I haven’t got around to trying any of her recipes, mostly because I haven’t done much baking up until the last month, and also because I have had trouble re-creating glutenous recipes in the past (e.g. the scones I made last weekend which didn’t rise!).Though, when I saw this post for Lumberjack cake with maple butterscotch coconut topping I knew I had to make it. I love the flavours of coconut and maple syrup and especially butterscotch! So what better way to spend a Friday night then to bake a cake. I have to say I was doubtful as I decided to use a gluten free flour mix, the exact same one that failed me with my scones last weekend. However, I gave it a go anyway and I am very pleased that I did. The cake tasted exactly like Not Quite Nigella explains it should, light and fluffy and the crunchy topping is a nice contrast. The cake was nice and moist and unlike my scones it did rise While it takes a bit of time to prepare, it is not hard, and is definitely worth the time.

A gluten free version of Not Quite Nigella's Lumberjack cake A gluten free version of Not Quite Nigella's Lumberjack cakeLumberjack cake (recipe taken from Not Quite Nigella)
Ingredients
Cake baseToppingMethod 1. Preheat oven to 180C. Line a cake tin with baking paper. In a bowl, place the chopped apple, dates, bicarb and boiling water and the bicarb should fizz. Allow to stand for 10 minutes making sure that the fruit sits in the water.

Sliced apple Sliced apple2. Beat the the eggs, sugar, vanilla essence and oil with an electric mixer for 3 minutes.  Add the apple and date mixture, water and all, to this mix and fold to combine. Then fold into the salt, flour and baking powder folding gently, ensuring that it is completely mixed. Bake for 50 minutes (I had to cook mine for 60 minutes putting tin foil over it for the last 20 so the top didn’t burn) or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.

Apple and dates soaking in bicarb and water and the beaten egg, sugar, vanilla and oil mixture

The cake batter mix ready to go in the oven Apple and dates soaking in bicarb and water and the beaten egg, sugar, vanilla and oil mixtureThe cake batter mix ready to go in the oven3.While the cake is baking, make the topping. In a small saucepan on low heat, melt the butter along with the cream, brown sugar, maple syrup and vanilla. Once melted and it becomes a rich butterscotchy maple sauce, add in the coconut.

The topping mixture once the coconut has been added The topping mixture once the coconut has been added4.When the cake is done, take the tin out of the oven and then spread over the topping reaching to all of the sides. Place cake in the oven on the same temperature and bake for another 20 minutes until the topping is golden.5. Serve and enjoy

The finished cake The finished cake