Ingredients
225g butter, softened, plus extra for the tin
450g cooking apples (such as Bramley)
½ lemon, juiced
280g golden caster sugar
4 eggs beaten
2 tsp vanilla extract
350g self-raising flour
2 tsp baking powder
demerara sugar, to sprinkle

Method

1  Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Butter and line a rectangular baking tin (approx 27 x 20cm) with  baking parchment. Peel, core and thinly slice the apples, then squeeze over the lemon juice. Set aside.

 

2  Put the butter, caster sugar, into a large bowl and mix well until smooth.

 

3  Add eggs slowly and beat, then add vanilla, 

 

4  Add baking powder to flour and then fold into mixture. Spread half the mixture into the prepared tin. Arrange half the apples over the top of the mixture, then repeat the layers. Sprinkle over the demerara sugar.

 

5  Bake for 45-50 mins until golden and springy to the touch. Leave to cool for 10 mins, then turn out of the tin and remove the paper. Cut into bars or squares.

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Either serve as a cake or add whipped cream for a delicious desert.