Spiced toffee apple cake

INGREDIENTS

• 200g dates , roughly chopped
• 200ml milk , plus a splash
• 250g butter , softened, plus extra for greasing
• 280g self-raising flour
• 200g light soft brown sugar
• ½ tsp baking powder
• 4 large eggs
• 1 tbsp mixed spice
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 small red apples
• squeeze lemon juice
• handful of toffees
• a little icing sugar , for dusting