EASTER SIMNEL CAKE

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image



Easter Simnel Cake image

A traditional Easter fruitcake decorated with marzipan balls that represent the 11 Apostles (Judas was excluded.) Bake in a deep pan.

Provided by Myra

Categories     Holidays and Events Recipes     Easter     Desserts     Cakes

Time 3h20m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 cup margarine, softened
1 cup light brown sugar
4 eggs
1.8 cups self-rising flour
1 ⅓ cups golden raisins
1 cup dried currants
⅔ cup candied cherries - rinsed, dried and quartered
¼ cup candied mixed fruit peel, chopped
2 tablespoons grated lemon zest
2 teaspoons mixed spice
1 pound almond paste
2 tablespoons apricot jam
1 egg, beaten

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8 inch springform pan. Line the bottom and sides of pan with greased parchment paper.
  • In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Beat in the flour. Stir in the golden raisins, currants, candied cherries, mixed fruit, lemon zest and mixed spice. Pour 1/2 of batter into prepared pan.
  • Divide almond paste into 3 equal portions. Roll out 1/3 of the almond paste to an 8 inch circle. Place the circle of almond paste on the cake batter in pan. Cover with remaining cake batter.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 2 1/2 hours, or until evenly brown and firm to the touch. If the cake is browning too quickly, cover with foil after an hour of baking. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely. Set oven to broil.
  • When the cake has cooled, brush the top with warmed apricot jam. Roll out 1/3 of the almond paste into an 8 inch circle and place on top of cake. Divide the remaining 1/3 of almond paste into 11 pieces and roll into balls. These represent the 11 Apostles (excluding Judas.) Brush the almond paste on top of cake with beaten egg. Arrange the 11 balls around the outside edge on the top of cake. Brush the balls lightly with egg.
  • Place cake under the broiler for 8 to 10 minutes, or until almond paste is golden brown.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 583.3 calories, Carbohydrate 79 g, Cholesterol 77.5 mg, Fat 27.9 g, Fiber 3.9 g, Protein 8.9 g, SaturatedFat 4.3 g, Sodium 460.9 mg, Sugar 36 g

Tyler Garlett
[email protected]

This cake was a bit dry for my taste, but the marzipan layer was delicious. I would recommend using a different recipe for the cake batter next time.


Zewdu Berhan
[email protected]

I'm not a fan of marzipan, but this cake was still delicious. The cake itself was light and airy, and the candied fruits and nuts added a nice sweetness and crunch. Would definitely make this again, but without the marzipan.


Baberali baber
[email protected]

This cake was a bit too sweet for my taste, but my family loved it. The marzipan layer was especially popular with the kids. Overall, a good recipe, but I would reduce the amount of sugar next time.


Steph Curran
[email protected]

I've never made a simnel cake before, but this recipe was easy to follow and the cake turned out great! The marzipan layer was especially delicious. I will definitely be making this cake again.


Willie Martinez
[email protected]

This cake was delicious! The marzipan layer was the perfect addition. I would definitely recommend this recipe to anyone looking for a festive Easter cake.


moi odi
[email protected]

I made this cake for my Easter brunch and it was a huge success! Everyone loved it, especially the marzipan layer. I will definitely be making this cake again next year.


Rana Adeel Rana Adeel
[email protected]

This cake was a bit dry for my taste, but the marzipan layer was delicious. I would recommend using a different recipe for the cake batter next time.


Nancy Nyeri
[email protected]

I've made this cake several times now and it's always a crowd-pleaser. The marzipan layer is a bit tricky to work with, but it's worth the effort. The cake is always moist and flavorful, and the candied fruits and nuts add a nice touch.


Venus
[email protected]

This cake is a bit time-consuming to make, but it's definitely worth the effort. The marzipan layer is especially delicious. I would recommend making this cake a day or two ahead of time so that the flavors have a chance to meld.


Peace Ugoenyi
[email protected]

I'm not a baker, but I was able to make this cake without any problems. The instructions were clear and easy to follow. The cake turned out great and everyone at my Easter dinner loved it!


Santos Santana
[email protected]

This cake was easy to make and turned out beautifully. I used a bundt pan instead of a round cake pan and it worked perfectly. The cake was moist and flavorful, and the marzipan layer was the perfect touch. Will definitely make this again.


Umer Naveed
[email protected]

This cake was a bit too sweet for my taste, but my family loved it. The marzipan layer was especially popular with the kids. Overall, a good recipe, but I would reduce the amount of sugar next time.


katie westlake
[email protected]

Not a fan of marzipan, but this cake was still delicious. The cake itself was light and airy, and the candied fruits and nuts added a nice sweetness and crunch. Would definitely make this again, but without the marzipan.


Stan Papa
[email protected]

I've tried many simnel cake recipes over the years, but this one is by far the best. The cake was moist and fluffy, and the marzipan layer was perfectly gooey. I will definitely be making this cake again for Easter next year!


William Gann
[email protected]

This Easter simnel cake was a hit at our family gathering! The marzipan layer added a delicious almond flavor and the candied fruits and nuts gave it a festive touch. Will definitely make this again next year.