Have I mentioned I’m a total sucker for anything with apples and spices? Oh yeah, I have. Just looking at this recipe I can almost smell those fragrant spices… And APPLES!!

Anyway, no sugar in this recipe. Unsweetened applesauce does the sweetening. So, this recipe is appropriate for diabetics. Not much oil either. All in all,  a rather heart healthy dessert.

Makes about  15 squares (165 calories a square)

Ingredients

* 300g (10 oz) raisins
* 225ml (8 fl oz) milk
* 125g (4 oz) self-raising flour
* 125g (4 oz) wholewheat flour
* 2 tsp baking powder
* Pinch of salt
* 1 tsp ground mixed spice
* 1 tsp ground nutmeg
* 3 eggs, beaten
* 4 tbsp vegetable oil
* 6 tbsp unsweetened apple sauce (or 1 stewed apple)
* 15g (½ oz) flaked almonds

Method

1. Place the raisins in a basin
2. Bring the milk to the boil then pour through a sieve on to the raisins
3. Stir, cover and leave to soak for 30 minutes
4. Strain the raisins from the milk
5. Measure 150ml (¼ pint) of the milk
6. Combine the flours, baking powder, salt, spices and raisins in a bowl
7. Beat in the eggs, oil, apple sauce and measured milk
8. Place the mixture in an 18 x 28 cm (7 x 11 in) tray bake tin which has been greased and base lined with greaseproof paper
9. Scatter the nuts over the top and bake at 190°C 375°F Gas 5 for about 45 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean
10. Remove the greaseproof paper and cool on a wire rack
11. When cold trim the edges and then cut into squares
12. Store in an airtight container in the fridge

To freeze

1. Pack the cake squares into a freezer bag, seal and label
2. Use within 3 months

To serve

1. Unwrap and thaw for about 2 hours at room temperature
2. Or microwave 4 squares at a time for about 2 minutes on Defrost, then stand for 5 minutes

Thanks to Bev Clement for this recipe!!

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