Apple cakes from The Wall - 5 weeks until GoT

Jon was breaking his fast on applecakes and bloodsausage when Samwell Tarly plopped himself down to the bench. "I've been summoned to the sept." Sam said in an excited whisper. "They're passing me out of training. I'm to be made a brother with the rest of you. Can you believe it?" -A Game Of Thrones

Afternoon my sweelings.

Yesterday I chose the second recipe from my little project and baked some apple muffins from The Wall. Admittedly I once again chose the modern version because they just looked so golden and moist and mmmm!            

Though I really do think this recipe captures not only the passage of the book they were mentioned in but also the whole vibe of The Wall. Picture this:

You have just finished a long day or combat training with your brothers mercilessly beating you and putting up with witty and rude remarks from Ser Alliser Thorne. On your walk you realise you can't feel your toes because it's so cold. You have another day full of training and hiking and watching tomorrow.
You enter the dining hall and break into a warm apple cake. The gooey apple and Cinnamon aroma's hit you and it's tangy sweetness and buttery crunch fills your body with a cosy feeling.

Ahh, damn it, now I want another!              

They may not be the most beautiful or showstopping cakes but they sure are delicious on any cold windy night.

Recipe: yields 8-12 muffins
For the cake-

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp each of baking powder and baking soda
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2-3 apples (peeled, cored, diced)
• pinch of salt

For the topping-

• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tbsp butter (chilled)
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Method-

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Prepare your muffin tin with cases or if no cases then heavily grease the pan. 
2. In a large bowl cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. (TIP- if the mix starts to curdle add a few teaspoons of flour)
4. In a separate bowl combine flour, baking powder and baking soda and salt. Add the dry mix slowly to the wet, alternating with sour cream.
5. Stir in the apples.
6. Fill each muffin case 2/3 full.
7. For the topping combine the sugar and cinnamon, rub in the cubed butter until crumbly and stir in the nuts.    
8. Sprinkle the topping evenly across the muffins and bake in the oven for 30 minutes.
9. Allow to cool and enjoy!                                              
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
    I also just wanted to quickly mention the Hairy Bikers electric whisk i recently purchased. It is literally amazing. Never have I ever seen such fluffy butter and sugar or such stiff peaked egg whites, and it will whip cream in an instant! It was reduced from £29.99 to £15.00 after Christmas and I would seriously recommend it. It has multiple speed settings and a turbo setting.
   
    On another note, HBO released a second trailer this week for GoT ( which looks freaking amazing!!!) so, here you go and enjoy! See you next week sweetlings.