Apple Slices

Preheat oven to 180°C (Fan). Grease an 8"x10" tin.

Sieve the flour and baking powder into a large bowl and mix together with a whisk. Set aside.

In another large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Add in the eggs 2 at a time and beat well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla essence.

Add the flour mixture alternatively with the milk, mixing well after each addition.

Pour 1/4 to 1/3rd of the mixture into your tin. This is your base layer. Bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes until lightly golden.

In the meantime, prepare the apple layer. Peel, core, and thinly slice the apples. Place them into a wide-bottomed pan and add the water, lemon juice, and sugar. Simmer over a medium heat for about 5 minutes until the apples are tender. Strain off any excess liquid.

Spread the apples evenly over your base layer. Pour the remaining cake batter over the apples and gently spread this into an even layer ensuring all of the apples are covered.

Place the tin back into the oven and bake for a further 35-40 minutes. The top should be nicely browned and a toothpick should come out clean.

Allow to cool completely before slicing into squares and dusting with icing sugar.

Serve with fresh cream or ice cream.