Spiced Apple Butter Cake with Butterscotch Sauce

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 160°C .
2. In a small saucepan, add the milk, star anise and cardamom pods and 2 tablespoons of water, and bring to a boil. Gently simmer for 5 minutes, and remove from heat. Leave to infuse for at least 15 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, place the butter, cinnamon and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat until light and creamy.
4. Gradually add the eggs and beat well. Sift the flour and baking powder over the butter mixture, add the strained milk and stir until combined. Line the base of a 22cm (9 inch) spring-form tin with non-stick baking paper and spoon in the mixture.
5. To make the topping, cut a row of deep slits in each apple half and arrange over the top of the cake mixture. Combine the sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over the apples.
6. Bake for 55 minutes, or until cooked when tested with a skewer.
7. To make the butterscotch sauce, caramelise the brown sugar in a heavy based pot. Add the butter and whisk to combine. Slowly add the cream and salt, and bring back up to the boil, whisking constantly. Stir in whisky at the end, if desired.
8. Serve cake warm with butterscotch sauce.