Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Prepare a 9-inch round baking pan by spraying with oil or coating with butter.

Sift the cake flour, baking powder, salt, cloves and nutmeg into a large mixing bowl.

Cut the butter into the flour and rub it in using your fingers or a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles fine bread crumbs.

Toss in the sugar and combine it with the flour mixture.

Peel and slice the apples into 1" pieces.

Add the apples into the flour mixture and mix them thoroughly.

Beat the eggs and add a dash of milk. Add to the apples and flour and combine well with a large spoon. Add more milk as needed to fully moisten the flour. The result is a pretty sticky mixture.

Transfer the dough into the prepared cake pan and flatten the top surface using the back of a large spoon.

Sprinkle two tablespoons of sugar over the top of the cake.

Bake the cake in the preheated 375 degree oven for 45 to 50 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes in the pan, then transfer to a wire wrack to finish cooling.

While the cake is baking you can make the custard.

Whisk together the egg yolks and sugar

heat the milk and vanilla to warm just before a boil

Add a few tablespoons of warm milk slowly to the egg mix to temper it

Whisk the egg yolk mixture into the warm milk and let simmer on low until thick.

Remove from heat and serve over your delicious apple cake.