Simnel Cake

A traditional Easter fruit cake layered with homemade marzipan, baked until golden, and decorated with eleven toasted marzipan spheres.

Estimated Nutrition

Per Serving Total
Calories 782.1 kcals 7820.5 kcals
Carbohydrates 106.5 grams 1065.1 grams
Fat 34.8 grams 348.4 grams
Protein 11.5 grams 115.2 grams
Cook Time
85 mins
Produces
10 people
Allergies
Vegetarian
Vegan
Dairy Free
Gluten Free

Ingredients

BakingIngredients
225
g
Icing Sugar
Plus 3 tbsp for rolling
CondimentsSauces
2
tbsp
Dairy
2
piece
Eggs
Large, free-range
3
piece
Eggs
Large, free-range
175
g
Butter
Softened, plus extra for greasing
Fruits
1
tsp
Lemon Juice
Freshly squeezed
1
piece
Orange
Juice and finely grated zest
1
piece
Lemon
Juice and finely grated zest
100
g
NutsSeeds
2
tsp

Steps

  • Sift icing sugar into a bowl and mix with caster sugar and almonds.
  • Combine beaten eggs, almond extract, and lemon juice with the dry ingredients into a paste.
  • Knead marzipan until smooth and let stand covered for 1 to 2 hours.
  • Simmer citrus juices, dried fruit, and cherries for 2 minutes and allow to cool.
  • Line a 20cm cake tin and mix flour with mixed spice in a bowl.
  • Preheat the oven to 170°C.
  • Cream butter and muscovado sugar until light and fluffy.
  • Slowly beat in eggs one at a time to prevent curdling.
  • Fold in flour mixture and cooled fruits, then spoon half into the tin.
  • Roll a portion of marzipan into a circle slightly larger than the cake tin.
  • Place the marzipan round over the cake mixture in the tin.
  • Cover with the remaining cake batter and smooth the surface.
  • Bake for 80 minutes until firm and golden-brown.
  • Cool the cake in the tin for 15 minutes before transferring to a rack.
  • Invert the cooled cake onto a tray for a flat decorating surface.
  • Heat apricot jam in a pan until warm.
  • Roll another marzipan portion into a circle the same size as the tin.
  • Brush the cake with jam, apply the marzipan circle, and score the top.
  • Roll the remaining marzipan into 11 small balls and fix them to the edge with jam.
  • Grill the top of the cake for 2 to 3 minutes until lightly toasted.
  • Wrap with a ribbon and slice to serve.