Ingredients

– 175g (6 oz) brown sugar
– 175g (6 oz) softened butter
– 175g (6 oz) self raising flour
– 3 free range eggs
– 4 apples
– 25g (1 oz) demerara sugar
– ½ tsp cinnamon
– Optional: 100g toasted hazelnuts

Directions

1. Preheat the over to 180°C/gas mark 4.
2. Cream the butter and sugar together until light. Add the eggs, beating well. Sift the flour into the bowl, folding through quickly.
3. Peel, core and cut the apples into slices but kept together in halves.
4. Spoon the cake mixture into a greased baking dish and arrange the sliced apples on top without pressing down.
5. Sprinkle the sugar, cinnamon and – if using – the hazelnuts over the apples.
6. Bake for 40 minutes until the topping is golden and the apple is tender.

[October - December]