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Classic Favorite Simnel Cake Recipe Easy Homemade Easter Tradition

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A traditional Simnel cake recipe featuring layers of marzipan and a rich blend of dried fruits and spices, perfect for Easter celebrations and family traditions.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 225g (1 ¾ cups) mixed dried fruit (currants, sultanas, chopped dried apricots)
  • 100g (½ cup) chopped glace cherries (optional)
  • 100ml (⅓ cup + 1 tbsp) orange juice or apple juice
  • 225g (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
  • 225g (1 cup + 3 tbsp) light brown sugar
  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 225g (1 ¾ cups) plain flour (all-purpose flour)
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp mixed spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves)
  • Zest of 1 lemon and 1 orange
  • 60g (¼ cup) chopped almonds or walnuts (optional)
  • 350g (12 oz) ready-to-roll marzipan
  • 1 tbsp apricot jam

Instructions

  1. Soak the mixed dried fruit and glace cherries in orange or apple juice for 15 minutes.
  2. Preheat oven to 160°C (320°F) fan or 180°C (350°F) conventional. Grease and line a 20cm (8-inch) round cake tin.
  3. Cream the softened butter and light brown sugar until pale and fluffy.
  4. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add a tablespoon of flour with each egg if mixture looks like it might split.
  5. Sift together plain flour, baking powder, and mixed spice. Stir in lemon and orange zest.
  6. Fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, then stir in soaked fruits and chopped nuts if using.
  7. Roll out half the marzipan to a circle slightly smaller than the cake tin base (about 18cm/7 inches).
  8. Pour half the batter into the tin and smooth the top. Place the marzipan circle on top gently.
  9. Spoon remaining batter over the marzipan layer and smooth the surface.
  10. Bake for about 1 hour 20 minutes until a skewer inserted comes out clean or with few moist crumbs. Cover with foil if browning too quickly.
  11. Cool cake in tin for 15 minutes, then turn out onto a cooling rack.
  12. Roll out remaining marzipan to cake size. Brush cake top with warmed apricot jam and place marzipan on top.
  13. Shape eleven small marzipan balls and arrange around the cake edge. Brush with more apricot jam.
  14. Optional: Brown the marzipan under a hot grill for 1-2 minutes or use a kitchen blowtorch carefully.

Notes

Soak fruit well to keep cake moist. Use room temperature ingredients for best results. Roll marzipan between parchment to prevent cracking. Apricot glaze seals moisture and adds shine. Cake flavors improve if made a day ahead. Watch marzipan carefully when browning to avoid burning.

Nutrition

Keywords: Simnel cake, Easter cake, marzipan cake, traditional cake, fruitcake, holiday dessert

Find it online: https://yumnode.com/classic-favorite-simnel-cake-recipe-easy-homemade-easter-tradition/