Spiced toffee apple cake

Name: Spiced toffee apple cake
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 45 min
Cuisine: British
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