Date & apple squares

• butter↗225g g

  plus a little extra for greasing

• cooking apple↗140g g

  peeled, cored and chopped

• stoned date140g g

  chopped

• light soft brown sugar↗280g g
• plain flour↗175g g
• bicarbonate of soda↗1 tsp tsp
• porridge oat100g g

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Grease an 18cm square tin and line with baking parchment.

2. 2

   Tip the apples into a pan with 2 tbsp water. Bring to the boil and simmer on a low heat for 5 mins until tender and slightly pulpy. Add the dates and 50g of the sugar, and cook for a further 5 mins. Take off the heat and break the apples down with the back of a spoon until smooth and well mixed with the dates. Set aside.

3. 3

   Gently melt the butter in a saucepan. Mix the flour, bicarb, oats and remaining sugar in a bowl. Pour in the melted butter and stir well until oats are coated.

4. 4

   Press half the mixture firmly into the tin, spread the apple mix on top and smooth over. Cover with the remaining oat mixture and press down. Bake for 30-35 mins until golden and firm. Cool in the tin before cutting into squares.