Here's the Craftpod Christmas cake recipe. I make it every year and I find it’s a good alternative to dense, richly fruited Christmas cake.
It's pretty quick to make, it's light, buttery and moist, and has all the traditional taste of the festive season in it! If you’re making it for children, you might prefer to use less brandy. Soak the cranberries in apple juice instead, or a combination of the two.

Ingredients

150g Butter (or margarine) at room temperature

175g Soft brown sugar

4 Large free-range eggs

125g Dried cranberries - soaked in 100ml of Brandy or Cointreau, overnight if possible (or for at least 2 hours)

2 Large dessert apples, chopped into small pieces

150g Ground almonds

100g White self-raising flour

1 teaspoon Baking powder

3 teaspoons Ginger powder

3 teaspoons Cinnamon powder

3 teaspoons Mixed spice powder

Grated zest of an orange

Marzipan (optional)

Icing sugar to dust

Method

Soak the cranberries in brandy overnight if you can.

Preheat the oven to 160 degrees C/gas mark 3. Line and grease a 24cm round cake tin.

In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time and beat together. Add the cranberries, into the bowl along with the chopped apple and stir in. Add the zest of the orange.

Sieve together the remaining (dry) ingredients and fold them well into the wet ingredients in the bowl.

Pour into the lined cake tin.

Roll up little balls of marzipan (depending on your preference for marzipan) and sink them into the cake. Then place a few extra pieces of marzipan onto the top of the cake. Bake at 160 degrees C/gas mark 3 for 35 minutes, then reduce the heat to 140 degrees C/gas mark 1 and bake for a further 15-20 minutes. The top should be golden and a bit springy when lightly pressed. Use a knife inserted into the centre of the cake to check it is cooked right through - it should come out without any wet mixture on it.

Leave the cake in the tin to cool for 15 minutes then place on a rack until cool (if you can bear the warm spicy smell - it’s also delicious eaten warm).

Once the cake has cooled completely, place on a plate and dust with icing sugar through a sieve for a snowy effect. Add your favourite Christmas cake decorations for a lovely festive scene!