Bramley apple & clove cake

Apple married with clove is as intrinsically autumnal as soft golden sunlight and papery leaves. As this loaf cake cooks, it will fill the kitchen with a rich, warm scent to wallow in.

It is rare for clove to get solo star billing in baking - it’s usually buried below cinnamon and ginger. Teddy Roosevelt, though, clearly knew a good thing as he favoured a clove cake above all others. In his case, it was one dark and sticky with molasses and dried fruit. This is an altogether gentler