In this episode of Royal Eats, former royal chef Carolyn Robb makes a hearty Glazed Apple, Date & Pecan Cake that she used to serve to guests of Prince Charles at afternoon tea.
In the fall, the Royal Family often traveled to Queen Elizabeth’s Sandringham Castle in Norfolk, England, to hunt pheasants which Robb would later pluck by hand for the family’s meals. The castle sits on 20,000 acres filled with lush organic apple orchards. Freshly picked apples were her inspiration for this cake, which is bursting with fresh fruit and warm spices, and is the perfect treat after a long day of hunting.
Robb strongly recommends sifting all of the dry ingredients to eliminate any lumps and ensure a light base for the various mix-ins. When she worked at Sandringham, crates of apples picked on-site were hand-delivered to her kitchen. The crisp apples soften in the oven and release their juice to add extra moisture to the cake.
Robb also makes the case for adding dates to your desserts. In this recipe, the dates' rich caramel notes are the perfect balance to the fall flavors. Along with some chopped pecans, the inside of the cake is full of texture.
While the cake itself is delicious on its own, Robb ups the ante with a show-stopping apple decoration and apricot glaze. In the video above, she walks us through the process of making this apple, date, and pecan cake. Bake one for your next afternoon tea!
Previously on Royal Eats: Former Royal Chef Reveals Prince William & Prince Harry’s Childhood Tea Time Recipes
Gabby Romero is Delish’s editorial assistant, where she writes stories about the latest TikTok trends, develops recipes, and answers any and all of your cooking-related questions. She loves eating spicy food, collecting cookbooks, and adding a mountain of Parmesan to any dish she can.
