Michelle Darmody: This sunken apple traybake is the perfect after-dinner treat

Cooking apples enjoy a long growing season in Ireland, most of the trees are a variety known as Brambley’s Seedling. 

This cake is made up of sticky, soft apple slices embedded within a rich butter sponge, simple and delicious. 

This is a great after-dinner treat or an afternoon pick-me-up. Traybakes like this are particularly handy as the squares of buttery goodness can be popped into a lunchbox, or packed into a backpack, alongside a flask of tea, when out for a long stroll.