Recipe Scene: Apple Streusel Slice

This is a really delicious way to use up those apples that languish at the bottom of the fruit bowl – the ones that no one wants to eat because they’ve gone soft.  You could used tinned apple if you want to, substitute the apple for pear, apricot, whatever, or use a combination of fruits.  Basically the fruit is just a carrier for the buttery shortbread base and the streusel topping.

Apple Streusel Slice

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Ingredients

4 large or 6 small apples, peeled, cored and diced
1 tablespoon brown sugar
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ cup (110 grams) sugar
100 grams butter, softened
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg yolk
¼ cup (35 grams) self raising flour
2/3 cup (100 grams) plain flour

Topping

90 grams butter, softened
¼ cup (35 grams) self raising flour
½ cup (75 grams) plain flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup (75 grams) brown sugar

Method

1.  Heat the oven to 180 degrees C.  Line a 18 cm x 28 cm slice tray with baking paper, with enough paper hanging over the long sides so that you can use it to lift the slice out of the tin when it’s finished.

2.  Place the apples, sugar and cinnamon in a bowl or saucepan.  Cook the apples in your preferred way – 5-6 minutes in the microwave or 10-12 minutes on the stovetop.  You want the fruit soft but not stewed and mushy.  Set aside to cool.

2.  Place the butter and sugar in a bowl and beat with electric mixers until well combined.  Add the vanilla, yolk and the flours and mix until it starts to come together.

3.  Tip the mix into the the slice tin.  Don’t worry if it doesn’t look like there will be enough, there will be.  Use your fingers to press the dough evenly into the base of the tin.  Put the base into the oven for about 20 minutes, or until light golden brown and firm to the touch.  Set aside to cool.

4.  While the base is cooking, prepare the streusel.  Place all the topping ingredients in a bowl and mix until well combined.  Shape the dough into a log and place it in the fridge for at least 15 minutes to firm up.

5.  When the base has cooled, evenly spoon the fruit mix over it.  Remove the streusel from the fridge and grate it over the fruit, making sure there is an even layer of streusel over the whole slice.  Bake in the oven for about 15 minutes then remove.

6.  Allow to cool in the tin, remove and cut into whatever size and shape you like.  If you want to you can serve the slice warm as a dessert with a dollop of cream or ice cream.