APPLE A & BANANA SLICE

MAKES 24 PREP 15 MINS COOK 30 MINS + COOLING COST $$$$$

100g butter, softened ¾ cup brown sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 eggs ½ cup mashed ripe banana ½ cup self-raising flour ½ cup plain flour ½ tsp mixed spice 1 small red-skinned apple, cored, quartered, thinly sliced 1 small green-skinned apple, cored, quartered, thinly sliced icing sugar, to dust

1 Preheat oven to moderate, 180°C. Grease and line a 30 x 20cm slice pan with baking paper, extending paper at long ends for handles.

2 In a bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter, sugar and essence until light and creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, until combined. Stir in banana and combined sifted flours and mixed spice. Spread mixture evenly over base of prepared pan.

3 Arrange apple slices, skin-side up, over slice, trimming apple if necessary. Bake 30 mins or until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Cool in pan 15 mins. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Serve in slices dusted with icing sugar.