simnel cake
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Easter Simnel Cake

Traditionally made at Easter - read more here Conventionally eleven marzipan balls are used to decorate the cake, with a story that the balls represent the twelve apostles, minus Judas   This marzipan decorating tradition developed late in the Victorian era, altering the mid Victorian tradition of decorating the cakes with preserved fruits and flowers. This is a BBC Good Food recipe.
Keyword Easter
search Cakes and Bakes, Seasonal
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings 12
Author BBC Good Food

Ingredients

Cake ingredients:

  • 250 g mixed fruit (a mixture of sultanas, currants, raisins and candied mixed peel)
  • 250 g softened butter softened
  • 200 g light brown sugar
  • 4 large eggs + 2 beaten to glaze
  • 175 g plain flour
  • 100 g ground almonds
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 orange
  • 1 lemon - zested grated zest only
  • 2 tsp ground mixed spice
  • 100 g glace cherries - halved

Filling and topping ingredients:

  • 500 g pack marzipan
  • 3 tbsp apricot jam warmed

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 150C/13C fan/gas 2. Butter and line a 20cm/ 20cm cake tin with a double layer of parchment. 
  • Put the mixed dried fruit in a bowl with the orange juice and zest and 2 tbsp water. Cover and microwave for 2 mins, then leave to cool completely. Alternatively, heat gently in a pan, stirring now and then until the liquid has been absorbed and leave to cool.
  • Roll out a third of the marzipan and use the base of a deep 20cm cake tin as a template to cut out a circle. Wrap any offcuts and the remaining two-thirds of marzipan and set aside for later. 
  • Beat the butter and sugar together until creamy. Add the eggs, flour, almonds, baking powder, lemon zest, mixed spice and vanilla (all in one go) and mix until well combined. Mix in the cooled soaked dried fruit and fold in the cherries.
  • Scrape half the cake mixture into the tin. Top with the disc of marzipan, then the remaining cake mixture, and level the top with a spatula. Bake for 2 hrs. Check it’s cooked by inserting a skewer to the centre of the cake, if any wet mixture clings to the skewer, return to the oven for another 10 mins, then check again. Cool in the tin for 15 mins, then turn out onto a wire rack and leave to cool completely.
  • Brush the top of the cake with apricot jam. Roll out half of the remaining marzipan and use the base of the cake as a template to cut out another disc. Place it on top of the cake and crimp the edges, if you like.
  • Roll the remaining marzipan into 11 equal-sized balls for the apostles. Brush the marzipan with beaten egg and arrange the apostles in a circle on top around the outside, and brush them with a little egg too. Put under a hot grill for a minute or two until just starting to caramelise – be very careful as the marzipan will burn easily. Leave to cool and wrap a ribbon around the cake, if you like. Will keep for up to a week in a sealed tin.

Notes

Tips: Remember only to include 11 marzipan balls.