Sticky Date and Apple Strudel

SERVES 8

PREP & COOK 1 HOUR, 30 MINS

1 cup chopped pitted dates 385g can sliced apple pie fruit, drained

1 tblsp golden syrup

2 tsps cinnamon sugar 10 sheets filo pastry

75g unsalted butter, melted ¹⁄³ cup quick oats Vanilla ice-cream, to serve

SAUCE

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

300ml tub thickened cream

2 tblsps golden syrup

1 Place dates and ½ cup water in a medium saucepan over a high heat. Bring to boil. Transfer to a heatproof bowl. Refrigerate, covered until cold. 2 Combine apples, syrup and half the cinnamon sugar in a bowl. Toss to coat.

3 Layer pastry sheets together on a clean bench, brushing in between each sheet with some of the butter. Reserve remaining butter. 4 Spread date mixture down centre of pastry, leaving an 8cm border on long sides and 7cm on short sides. Sprinkle oats over date mixture, then spread apple mixture over the top.

5 With long side facing you, fold in short sides of pastry. Roll up from long side to enclose filling. Lift strudel, seam-side down, onto a large oven tray lined with baking paper. Brush with reserved butter. Sprinkle with remaining cinnamon sugar. 6 Cook in a hot oven (200C) for about 30 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp. Remove from oven. Stand on tray for 15 minutes.

7 Meanwhile, to make sauce, combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan over a low heat. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Bring to boil. Gently boil, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes, or until thickened. Remove.

8 Serve warm strudel with warm sauce and ice-cream.

TIP

Strudel is best served warm. Date mixture and sauce can be made up to one day ahead. Keep covered in the fridge. Reheat sauce in the microwave until

warm.