• 

  unsalted butter softened, plus extra for greasing

  125 g
• 

  pitted dates

  120 g
• 

  Granny Smith apples peeled, cored and cut into pieces (1 cm)

  2
• 

  bicarbonate of soda

  1 tsp
• 

  boiling water

  220 g
• 

  caster sugar

  125 g
• 

  plain flour

  250 g
• 

  egg

  1
• 

  natural vanilla extract

  1 tsp

Almond topping

• 

  unsalted butter

  60 g
• 

  brown sugar

  60 g
• 

  milk

  2 tbsp
• 

  slivered almonds

  50 g
• 

  custard ice cream or whipped cream, for serving