Food Network
When Gemma Stafford was growing up in Ireland, her mom always had a cake or crumble on hand just in case someone dropped by for a cup of tea and a chat. Like many traditional Irish desserts, her mom’s weren’t particularly complicated: What made them so good were ingredients like Irish butter, rhubarb from the garden and sour apples picked from a tree near the house. “In Ireland, everything is local,” the chef says. When Gemma started cooking and baking professionally, she became known for over-the-top treats like birthday pound cake and peanut butter fudge ice cream pie (check out her recipes at biggerbolderbaking.com), but she still loves a simple, classic dessert like this one from her mom. “It’s a humble cake but it yields a big reward,” she says. “A lot of Irish recipes are like that.” —Francesca Cocchi for Food Network Magazine.
