Simnel cake

Simnel cake is a traditional Easter cake in England. It is a fruit cake that is flavored with almond paste and topped with a layer of marzipan. The cake is decorated with eleven marzipan balls, representing the twelve apostles minus Judas. The cake is usually baked a few weeks before Easter and left to mature to develop its flavors. Simnel cake has been a traditional Easter cake in England since the medieval times and is still popular today.

Here's a recipe for Simnel cake that you can try at home:

Ingredients:

1. 225g unsalted butter, softened
2. 225g light brown sugar
3. 4 large eggs
4. 225g self-raising flour
5. 1 tsp baking powder
6. 2 tsp mixed spice
7. 225g sultanas
8. 225g currants
9. 50g candied peel
10. 50g glace cherries, chopped
11. Zest of 1 lemon
12. 500g marzipan

For the decoration:

1. Apricot jam
2. 1 egg white, beaten

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 150°C (130°C fan)/300°F/gas mark 2. Grease and line a 20cm round cake tin.

In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Beat in the eggs, one at a time, adding a tablespoon of flour with each egg.

Sift in the remaining flour, baking powder, and mixed spice, and fold into the mixture.

Stir in the sultanas, currants, candied peel, cherries, and lemon zest until evenly distributed.

Spoon half the mixture into the prepared cake tin and smooth the top with a spatula.

Roll out 300g of the marzipan into a circle to fit the top of the cake. Place it on top of the cake mixture and press down lightly.

Spoon the remaining cake mixture on top of the marzipan and smooth the top.

Bake in the preheated oven for 2-2.5 hours, or until golden brown and a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.

Allow the cake to cool completely in the tin before removing and transferring to a serving plate.

Brush the top of the cake with apricot jam.

Roll out the remaining marzipan into 11 balls.

Place the marzipan balls around the edge of the cake, sticking them in place with beaten egg white.

Brush the marzipan balls with beaten egg white and place the cake under a hot grill until the marzipan is lightly toasted.

Allow the cake to cool completely before serving.

Enjoy your homemade Simnel cake!