Quick Christmas Cake - Mich Turner Recipe

Preheat oven to 160C fan oven 140C. Grease a 6” round cake tin or 2lb loaf tin.

Sieve the flour and Baking Powder together.

Place the dates and sultanas in a bowl and cover with boiling water.

Melt the butter and sugar together in a saucepan and allow to cool slightly.

Beat the eggs, ginger, Lemon Extract and Vanilla Extract into the butter and sugar. Drain the dates and chop finely. Add to the saucepan and mix well.

Stir in the apple and flour, then spoon into the tin and bake in the oven for about 1hr 15 mins until well risen. A skewer inserted should come out clean, with a few crumbs. Leave to cool in the tin.

Dust the top with icing sugar to serve The cake lasts a week stored in an airtight container (delicious from the fridge) or for 1 month frozen – perfect for making in advance.