Name: Canteen-style iced apple cakes recipe
Prep time: 60 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 80 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: australian
Ingredients: 400g can apple pie apples; 40.00 ml brown sugar; 1/2 tsp cinnamon; 200g icing sugar, sifted; 300g (2 cups) plain flour, plus extra to dust; 150g unsalted butter, chilled, chopped; 100g icing sugar; 2 egg yolks

by Francesca Percy Last updated on 10/26/2022

Begin this recipe at least 3 hours ahead. You can make the pastry the day before, but these cakes are best enjoyed on the day they are baked and iced. - Francesca Percy

Ingredients

400g can apple pie apples
2 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
200g icing sugar, sifted

Pastry

300g (2 cups) plain flour, plus extra to dust
150g unsalted butter, chilled, chopped
100g icing sugar
2 egg yolks

Method

Step 1

For the pastry, place flour in a large bowl. Add butter and rub into the flour using your fingertips until coarse crumbs form. Stir in icing sugar, breaking up any lumps with your fingertips. Add egg yolks and 1 tbsp water and mix gently with your hand until dough starts to come together. Gently press into a ball, then halve and press each half into a disc. Enclose in plastic wrap and chill for 1-2 hours.
Step 2

Meanwhile, combine apple, sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate until required.
Step 3

Roll out one pastry disc between 2 sheets of baking paper lightly dusted with flour to 3mm thick. Place on a tray and return to the fridge. Repeat with remaining pastry. Chill for 1 hour or up to 12 hours ahead.
Step 4

Line 2 baking trays with baking paper. Using a 7.5cm round cutter, cut out 24 rounds. Place 12 rounds on prepared trays. Spoon heaped teaspoonfuls of apple mixture evenly among small rounds, leaving a 1cm border (see note). Brush each border with water, top with remaining pastry rounds and press edges together to seal. Return to the fridge for 30 minutes.
Step 5

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 180°C fan-forced. Bake apple cakes for 20 minutes or until golden. Cool on trays for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 6

When cakes have completely cooled, combine icing sugar and 2 tbs water in a large bowl. Spread icing over apple cakes, then return to the wire rack to set. Serve immediately.