Dorset Apple Squares

Having invited friends over this week for coffee and cake in the garden, I was keen to bake something tasty and seasonal for us all to enjoy. The previous few days had been spent down in Dorset (home of the famous Dorset Apple Cake), which started me thinking, as the apple trees in the ADK garden are now laden with fruit (see below). With a bit of help from a recipe on BBC Good Food, the idea for this traybake slowly came together.

Servings

Makes at least 16 squares.

Timings

15 mins to prepare, 45 mins in a fan oven at 160C.

You Will Need

• 400g apple
• half a lemon
• 220g butter, softened
• 250g caster sugar
• 4 eggs
• 350g self-raising flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• ground cinnamon and dark brown sugar, to sprinkle

Method

1. Grease a baking tray and line with baking paper. The one I used is 22cm square. Switch the oven on to 160C.
2. Peel and finely chop the apple. Place in a bowl and squeeze the lemon over. Stir so that the apple is coated in the lemony juice.
3. Place the butter and caster sugar in a separate bowl and cream with an electric mixer. Crack in the eggs and mix.
4. Sieve in the flour and baking powder, and fold in with a spatula, so that there are no dry ingredients.
5. Tip in about 75% of the chopped apple and stir to incorporate.
6. Spoon the mixture into the prepared baking tray and level with the back of a metal spoon. Sprinkle over a dusting of ground cinnamon, and then crumble over the dark brown sugar. Gently press in the remaining pieces of apple.
7. Place in the oven at 160C for 45 mins, by which time a skewer inserted in the middle should come out dry.
8. Remove and leave in the tin for 10 mins, before transferring to a wire rack to cool. Cut into 16 squares.

Customise It!

Use mixed spice or grated nutmeg in place of the cinnamon if you wish. Enjoy a square on its own to accompany a tea or coffee, or with a few dollops of cream or natural yoghurt alongside.

I heard this track on the radio recently, and was impressed by its fresh and distinctive sound. This is Sub Focus with Off the Ground.