Custardy Apple Squares

Ingredients


 * Butter for the pan
 * 3 medium apples (juicy, sweet)
 * 1/2 cup flour
 * 1 teaspoon baking powder
 * 2 eggs
 * 1/3 cup granulated sugar
 * Pinch of salt
 * 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
 * 6 tablespoons whole milk
 * 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled (but still liquid)
 * Confectioners' sugar (optional)

Heat the oven to 400° F.

Butter an 8-inch square baking pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.

Peel the apples. Slice the apples thinly.

Melt the butter now, so it has a chance to cool a little (but not re-harden) before you need to mix it in.

In a bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder.

In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, and salt for a couple of minutes, or until the sugar dissolves and the eggs become pale.

Whisk in the vanilla, then the milk and the melted butter.

Add the flour and whisk until smooth.

With a spatula, gently fold in the apples until each slice is coated. Scrape the batter into the pan and roughly even out the top.

Bake the cake for 40 to 50 minutes or until golden and uniformly puffed. A skewer in the middle will come out clean.

Transfer to a rack to cool, then slice and dust with the optional confectioners' sugar.