A Madeira sponge cake flavored with lemon zest, spices, and grated apples is the basis for this elegant dessert. The gateau is layered with marzipan and apricot jam, and then covered with a thick coat of sweetened whipped cream made with ground almonds. Don’t let the apples fool you; they aren’t picked from a tree. Each apple is a sweet confection made with marzipan, a whole clove for the apple stem and sepal, and painted with food color. I quickly realized I should have made a bushel of apples; everyone I served this to delighted in eating the sweet marzipan apples as much as the cake. You can make the marzipan up to a week ahead of time and refrigerate; the marzipan is easier to work with when chilled. Also make the marzipan apples one or two days beforehand so they are ready to use once the cake is completed and ready to serve. Remove the clove pieces before eating the apples.