Simnel Cake
A traditional British Easter fruit cake layered with marzipan and decorated with marzipan balls, symbolizing the apostles. Perfect for spring celebrations.
🧂 Ingredients
- 500 g Mixed dried fruit (raisins, sultanas, currants, candied peel)(Soak in 2 tbsp of rum or brandy overnight for extra flavor, if desired.)
- 450 g Marzipan(Divided: 300g for filling, 150g for topping.)
- 200 g Unsalted butter, softened
- 4 Large eggs, at room temperature
- 250 g Self-raising flour
- 1 tsp Mixed spice
- 150 g Brown sugar, light or dark
- 1 Zest of 1 lemon
- 1/2 tsp Almond extract (optional)
- 1-2 tbsp Milk (for brushing)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 150°C (130°C fan/300°F/Gas Mark 2). Grease and line a 20cm (8-inch) round cake tin with baking parchment.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 2
In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, adding a tablespoon of the flour with each addition to prevent curdling. Stir in the lemon zest and almond extract (if using).
⏱️ 15 minutes - 3
Sift the self-raising flour and mixed spice over the wet ingredients. Gently fold them in until just combined. Stir in the dried fruit.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 4
Divide the marzipan into two portions: 300g for the filling and 150g for the topping. Roll out the 300g portion into a circle large enough to fit into the base of your cake tin. Place this marzipan disc into the bottom of the prepared tin.
⏱️ 5 minutes - 5
Pour the cake batter evenly over the marzipan disc in the tin. Smooth the top.
⏱️ 5 minutes - 6
Bake in the preheated oven for 2 hours and 30 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center of the cake (avoiding the marzipan layer) comes out clean. If the top starts to brown too quickly, loosely cover it with aluminum foil.
⏱️ 2 hours 30 minutes - 7
Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the tin for 15 minutes before turning it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
⏱️ 15 minutes - 8
Once the cake is completely cool, roll out the remaining 150g of marzipan. Use cookie cutters or freehand to cut out 11 small balls (representing the apostles).
⏱️ 5 minutes - 9
Brush the top of the cooled cake with a little milk. Arrange the 11 marzipan balls decoratively on top. You can lightly toast the marzipan balls under a preheated grill (broiler) for a few minutes until golden brown, watching carefully to prevent burning.
⏱️ 5 minutes
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓The 11 marzipan balls represent Jesus's disciples, excluding Judas.
- ✓Simnel cake is traditionally eaten at Easter, but also has roots in Mothering Sunday celebrations.
- ✓For a richer flavor, soak the dried fruit in rum or brandy overnight before adding it to the batter.
- ✓Ensure your eggs and butter are at room temperature for the best cake texture.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Add chopped glacé cherries or nuts to the fruit mixture.
- Use a different flavored extract like orange or lemon.
- For a more intense marzipan flavor, add a thin layer of marzipan to the top of the cake before baking, then decorate with the balls after.