Irish Apple cake - Serves 6 approx

Apple cakes like this one are the traditional sweet in Ireland. It would originally have been baked in a pot beside an open fire and later in the oven on tin or enamel plates.

These are better than ovenproof glass because the heat travels through and cooks the pastry base more readily.! All apple cakes are made with cooking apples.

8 ozs (225g) flour