4ozunsalted butterroom temperature or at least cut in small pieces
1cupsugar
2eggs
1teaspoonvanilla extract
1 ⅓cupall purpose flourplain flour
1teaspoonbaking powder
½teaspoonbaking soda(bicarbonate of soda)
¼teaspoonsalt
½teaspooncinnamon
⅛teaspoonginger
⅛teaspoonclovesor allspice
2cupsapplespeeled and small dice, approx 2 apples (peeled and cored weight/vol)
⅓cupchopped dates
For the maple frosting (optional)
¼cupconfectioners sugar(¼ cup is 4tbsp) icing sugar
1tablespoonmaple syrup
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350F/175C. Line a 9x9in (23x23cm) cake pan with parchment.
Cream together the butter and sugar until well combined (you can use either a stand or hand mixer). Add the eggs one at a time along with the vanilla and mix in well.
In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Add this to the butter mixture - I suggest folding in with a spatula rather than beating (you can add part at a time, if easier). The mixture will be relatively stiff.
Add the diced apples and dates, mix them through then tip into the lined prepared pan. Smooth the top then bake for approximately 35 minutes until a medium brown color and a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean.
You can enjoy the cake warm or cool, but if you want to add frosting it will need to be cooled first.
If adding frosting, sift the confectioner's sugar then stir in the maple syrup. Mix until smooth. Drizzle or spread over the cake once it has cooled then cut and serve. It will keep approx 3-4 days at cool room temp in a sealed box.
Video
Notes
Note nutritional info does not include frosting. In the photos, I have used roughly half of the frosting as a drizzle.Instead of dates, you can also use raisins in the cake.