I do like the flavour combination of apples and cinnamon and when I was asked to bake for a local Charity this recipe came to mind. I am happy to say it was a great success.

Apple & Oat Traybake

INGREDIENTS

For the Cake

• 150g self-raising flour
• ¾ tsp bicarbonate of soda
• ¾ tsp salt
• 1 tsp cocoa powder
• 1½ tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground cloves
• 150g unsalted butter, softened
• 170g caster sugar
• 3 medium eggs
• 100g ground oats
• 3 apples, peeled, cored and finely diced (I used Granny Smiths)
• 80g chopped walnuts

For the Frosting

• 200g mascarpone cheese
• 125g unsalted butter, softened
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• 225g icing sugar, sifted

METHOD

1. Preheat the oven to 190C/170C fan. Line a 28cm x 17cm deep tin with baking parchment.
2. In a bowl, sift together the flour, bicarbonate of soda, salt, cocoa, cinnamon and cloves, then stir in the oats.
3. In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time and beat well after each addition.
4. Stir in the flour mixture followed by the apples and nuts until just combined.
5. Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and bake in the preheated oven for 30 – 40 minutes until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.
6. Cool in the tin for 10 minutes before placing on a wire rack, with the baking parchment still in place, until cooled completely.
7. To make the frosting, beat butter until soft and smooth. Add the mascarpone, vanilla essence and cinnamon and beat until well combined and smooth.
8. Add the icing sugar and beat until the frosting is light and smooth. Spread over the top of the cooled cake and slice into slices or squares.