Fruit plait

Kids will love helping make this easy spiced dessert - similar to an apple and pear strudel, but with ready-rolled puff pastry instead of filo

• Prep: 20 mins 
  Cook: 30 mins 
  plus soaking
• Serves 4
• Easy

Nutrition per serving

• Calories 532
• Carbohydrates 71
• Saturated Fat 10
• Sugar 40
• Protein 8
• Fat 23
• Fibre 4
• Salt 0.7

Ingredients

• 1 ready-made 320g puff pastry sheet
• 1 tbsp plain flour
• 1 tsp vegetable oil, for greasing
• 2 tbsp sultanas
• 2 eating apples
• 2 pears
• 2 tbsp clear honey
• 3 tbsp apricot jam
• pinch of mixed spice
• pinch of cinnamon
• 1 egg
• crème fraîche or vanilla ice cream, to serve

Method

1. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured work surface into a large rectangle. Transfer to a lightly greased baking tray.
2. Put the sultanas in a small mixing bowl with just enough warm water to cover them, and soak for 10 mins.
3. Core the apples and pears and slice them into even-sized pieces – you don’t need to peel them. Put the pieces in a bowl and add the honey and 2 tbsp apricot jam. Drain the soaked sultanas and add them to the mixture. Stir well and add the mixed spice and cinnamon to taste.
4. Spoon the mixture in a thick strip down the centre of the puff pastry. Use a sharp knife to make roughly 8 diagonal cuts down each side of the pastry like a lattice. Fold the pastry strips alternately across the filling like a plait.
5. Crack the egg into a bowl, whisk with a fork and, using a pastry brush, glaze the top of the puff pastry.
6. Place the plait in the oven and bake for 25-30 mins or until the apples are soft and the pastry is golden brown. Serve with crème fraîche or vanilla ice cream.