I just had to share this melt in the mouth cake recipe. As it is still cold enough for comfort food, I jumped at the chance of making this cake. My lovely Instagram friend Katerina, whose food shots make my mouth water, shared a picture of this cake she had made. She very kindly gave me the recipe to try and let me tell you, it's one of the best cakes I have ever made! Check out her lovely gallery here.

The bourbon works so well with the apples, pecans and spices. It is super moist, packed with fruit and has dark, spicy flavours.

1. Preheat the oven to 160C/315F Gas 4.
2. Using an electric mixer with paddle or beater attachment (or an electric whisk, which I used), beat the butter and both sugars until the mixture is almost light in colour and fluffy in texture.
3. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until thoroughly combined before adding the next. Scrape down the side of the bowl and mix again for one minute.
4. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, bicarb, all the spices and salt and sift twice.
5. Add one third of the flour mixture to the egg mixture and mix until well incorporated. Repeat with another third of the flour mixture, then the rest of the flour mixture, and mix until just combined.
6. Pour the Bourbon over the apples in a bowl and mix. Fold the apples and pecans into the cake mixture.
7. Spoon the mixture into the prepared cake tin. 
8. Bake in the preheated oven for 55-70 minutes. A wooden skewer inserted in the middle should come out with almost no crumbs attached, and the middle of the cake, when pressed, should spring back slightly instead of sink. Bake for an additional 5-10 minutes if necessary.
9. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Slide a table knife all around the edge to loosen the cake, then remove from the pan. Transfer to a wire rack to cool for one hour.