Simnel Cake: A Traditional Easter Cake Recipe
When I think of food in the Springtime, I always think of Simnel Cake!
Many years ago in England, maids would bake a fruit cake to give to their mothers for Mothering Sunday during the Lent period, when they had a rare day off to visit them. Over the years, the tradition of baking the Simnel Cake has moved to Easter Sunday, when it is decorated with Easter eggs and served for afternoon tea. Tradition has it that it would have been covered with 11 eggs, representing the 12 disciples, minus the one who betrayed Jesus.
The Simnel Cake recipe is similar to the traditional English Christmas Cake, but not as rich, with a layer of marzipan in the middle of the cake and covered with a second layer, without royal icing as well. If you prefer you can use ready-to-roll marzipan instead of making your own. The eggs for decoration can also be rolled from pieces of marzipan and the whole topping brushed with egg white and grilled for a short time to brown. My version is without this final step and decorating with small chocolate eggs, making it quicker for the modern, busy housewife!
In our house, Simnel Cake has always been a favourite. The fruit content ensures that it will last and you can make it some days before required. However, once brought out, it's sure to get eaten up very quickly!
The Simnel Cake Recipe
Serving Size
Serves: 10-12
Ingredients
- 150 g butter
- 150 g sugar
- 3 eggs
- 200 g plain flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon mixed spice
- 500 g mixed dried fruit
- 75 g chopped glace cherries
- 75 g chopped candied peel
- 50 g chopped blanched almonds (optional)
- 2 tablespoons milk
For the marzipan:
- 200 g ground almonds
- 100 g castor sugar
- 100 g sieved icing sugar
- 1 egg or 2 egg yolks to bind
- or 2 x 200g packs of ready-to-roll marziapan
Instructions
- Preheat oven to Gas 3 (170C)
- First, make the marzipan by mixing the marzipan ingredients together.
- Cream the butter and sugar until creamy.
- Gradually beat in the eggs.
- Fold in the flour, baking powder and spice.
- Add the fruit, almonds and milk.
- Place half the mixture into a greased and floured 8 inch cake pan.
- Roll out just under half the marzipan to a round and place on top.
- Add the rest of the cake mixture to cover the marzipan.
- Bake in centre of oven for 2 1/4 hours, reducing the heat slightly after an hour.
- When cooked (check there is no humming noise), cool on wire tray.
- When cool, cover with the rest of the marzipan and decorate with small eggs, almonds or chicks.
Enjoy Your Simnel Cake With Your Favourite Cuppa!
The Easter Cake Vote
© 2014 Christine Hulme
Are you going to try this Simnel Cake recipe?
I love marzipan. I hardly ever see it here. I really enjoyed learning a bit of the history too. Great hub for Easter and gorgeous picture!
I hope to do one this Easter. I love marzipan so this is my kind of cake.
This is a cute and fabulous looking cake. Love it.
This sounds really good. I never heard of this before.
- AUTHOR
@paulahite: Thanks for featuring this on the new page, Paula!
Beautiful and sweet tradition. I featured your lens on our NEW Tumblr page today. Look for it around 4pm EST.
- AUTHOR
@Dressage Husband: Thanks Stephen, although the lens was added to the Best Of Squidoo, rather than LOTD. Maybe that will come next!!
We always had these at Easter when I was still at home with my Mum. Great Lens and thanks for reminding me of this Great British tradition. Well done on the LOTD!
I've never heard of this, but it sounds fabulous
Excellent lens. Starting to dribble already.
Never heard of it. Looks good! Great Lens.
I have never had a recipe for this cake, so thanks I will try it for easter, it sure looks yummy.
Thanks for sharing this interesting tradition.
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