Healing Powers of Tea--Author's Favorite Sweet Chamomile

By Cal Orey

Apple Chamomile Tea Cake

Sweet apple cake recipes with fresh apples, an autumn favorite, go back centuries. This recipe, my own, has served the years but I continue to make minor tweaks, and this time around it's infused with a bit of special chamomile tea blend.

2 1/2 cups cake flour
1/4 cup granulated white sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
12 teaspoon nutmeg
1 tablespoon apple cinnamon chamomile, finely ground loose leaf
1 stick European sea salt butter (save 1 tablespoon to grease cake dish)
1/2 cup Granny Smith apples, cord, chopped, unpeeled
1/2 cup raisins
2 eggs
2 tablespoons honey (optional)
Sea salt caramel gelato

In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking soda, spices, and tea. Add cold butter chunks, apples, raisins, eggs, and honey. Stir until mixed. Spoon batter into buttered baking dish or pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes or until firm and light golden. Cool. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar. Cut into squares. Top with a small scoop of gelato. Serves 16.

Excerpt from The Healing Powers of Tea (Kensington).
Pages 260-261
Chamomile Secrets That'll Surprise You
Pages 106-108