Preheat oven to 180c. Grease a deep, 20cm/8in round cake tin.
Cook the apples in 4 tbsp water for 5mins until soft, leave to cool.
Sift flour and spices into a bowl. Add margarine, sugar, syrup and eggs. Beat with an electric whisk until blended. Stir in the cooked apples and sultanas.
Spoon the mixture into the cake tin and level the surface. Bake for 40mins, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
Allow the cake to cool in the tin for 5mins. Turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with icing sugar just before serving.
