Apple and Walnut Cake

Did you know that it is National Apple Week? No neither did I!

• I am getting quite good at actually remember to bake gluten free now. I am wheat intolerant but somehow when baking I do seem to forget this and have to suffer, good job I am not allergic eh! I was sorting out our cupboards and am quite embarrassed to see a great deal of out-of-date food, I am normally quite on top of this but for some reason there was some shocking finds...2010 crisps anyone?

However...in this clear out, I found walnuts. From Christmas yes but actually in date and very fitting to make this cake which falls nicely with National Apple Week. Some may say it is meant to be..

• 110g unsalted butter, softened and cut into cubes, plus extra for greasing
• 2 Medium bananas
• 2  Apples, peeled & cored
• 220g Gluten Free Flour
• 1 Tbsp Cinnamon
• Grated zest of 1 orange and 1 lemon
• 175g Dark brown soft sugar
• 2 large Eggs, lightly beaten
• 50g Medjool dates, stoned & chopped (Or I think 'normal' dates are fine!)
• 175g Walnuts, roughly chopped
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• ♥ Butter a loaf tin and line the base and ends with strips of baking parchment. Preheat the oven to 180°C, fan 160°C, gas 4.
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• ♥Peel the bananas and put into a bowl, then mash them to a purée with a fork. Grate the apples into the bowl and mix.
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• ♥Put the cinnamon and baking powder into a mixing bowl and sift both the flours on top, finally tipping in the bits of wholemeal that are left over in the sieve. Add the remaining ingredients, apart from the dried fruit and walnuts, and mix together thoroughly using an electric hand whisk. When the mixture is smooth, add the fruit and walnuts and stir through.

• ♥Pop the mixture into the prepared loaf tin, level and bake in the middle of the preheated oven for 1¼ -1½ hours, or until a skewer inserted into the loaf comes out clean. Allow to cool before slicing...if you can wait!

Voilà!