Instructions
- Pre heat oven to 180˚C/Fan 160˚C/Gas 4. Grease and line a 30cm x 20cm baking tin.
- Place 250ml milk, dates and lemon rind in a saucepan, heat gently and simmer for 5-10 minutes until dates are soft. Cool slightly and then mash or whizz with a blender.
- Cut apples into quarters, then core and slice thinly, coat in lemon juice. In a large mixing bowl, place 250g butter, flour, 200g muscovado sugar, baking powder, eggs, mixed spice, vanilla extract and date puree.
- Beat together cake ingredients until smooth, pour into baking tray and even out. Arrange apple slices in rows on top of cake.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes until a skewer comes out clean. Cool in tray
- In a heavy based saucepan, heat together 150g sugar, 100g butter and 50ml milk and boil gently for 4-5 minutes, until thickened. Remove from heat, add vanilla extract. Cool slightly then drizzle half over cake.
- Serve remainder warm over cake.