Ingredients
Very important - all ingredients have to be at room temperature before starting, including eggs, butter and even the caramel sauce
225gm of all-purpose flour sifted with 1tspn baking powder and 1tspn baking soda
225gm unsalted butter very soft
150gm caster sugar
50gm brown sugar
30gm of sugar made into caramelised sauce (Take a pan, add the sugar, leave it covered on a low flame, for a few minutes. As it begins to darken and turn nutty, start swirling it around. You have to work fast. Add about 2tblspns of cooking cream in a thin stream while stirring continuously. Take off the flame. Stir. You will have a thick sauce.)
4 big eggs (50+ gms)
2 tspn of vanilla essence
3 tblspn of milk or 2 tblspn cream
1 nutmeg ground
5 cloves ground
1/2tspn cinnamon ground
1/4tspn ginger powder
Optional - 1 cup of black currants, golden raisins and Sultanas - all dry and dusted with some flour prior to adding.
Oven pre-heated to 180°C
Method
Not too dense, but with enough body to make it satisfying. I am not one for icing. I prefer fresh cream and toffee sauce as topping. The result is this cake.
![Brown sugar and butter](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2018/12/17/Brown_sugar_and_butter_resources1_16a08543bd3_original-ratio.jpg)
Beat butter and sugar till light and airy. Separate the egg yolk and white. Put the egg whites in a cool glass bowl. Whip into stiff peaks. Keep aside
![Eggs separated](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2018/12/17/Eggs_separated_resources1_16a08543bee_original-ratio.jpg)
Add egg yolks one by one. Beat. Add vanilla essence. Beat.
Add flour sifted with baking powder and soda. Bit by bit. Add the spice powders.
![Nutmeg powdered](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2018/12/17/Nutmeg_powdered_resources1_16a08543c0b_original-ratio.jpg)
Add milk/cream alternately. Finally add the caramel sauce.
![Caramel sauce](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2018/12/17/Caramel_sauce_resources1_16a08543c3e_original-ratio.jpg)
Gently fold in the cup of fruit mix, if you’ve opted for it. And the egg whites, too. The movement is a gentle circle and pull down from the centre with a spatula.
![Whipped egg whites](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2018/12/17/Whipped_egg_whites_resources1_16a08543c30_original-ratio.jpg)
Pour the batter into a well-buttered 9-inch round baking tin.
![Creating the cake batter](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2018/12/17/Creating_the_cake_batter_resources1_16a08543c38_original-ratio.jpg)
Bake at 180° for 50+ minutes or more depending on your oven.
Check for done by inserting a wooden skewer in the center. If it comes out clean or with a few crumbs attached, it is done. Then take it out. Cool, slice and serve.
Serving suggestion: With a dollop of whipped unsweetened double cream or homemade custard.