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Simnel cake

17/11/2023

I can provide you with the recipe for Simnel Cake, a traditional British dessert that is eaten during the Easter period. Note that this is not a typically Italian recipe, but I will indicate how to prepare it according to the tradition.

Ingredients

  • 225 g of soft butter
  • 225 g of caster sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 225 g of self-raising flour
  • 225 g of raisins
  • 110 g of candied citrus peel, chopped
  • 110 g of dried apricots, chopped
  • 50 g of ground almonds
  • 2 tablespoons of milk
  • Zest of 2 oranges
  • 2 teaspoons of mixed spice (such as ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves)
  • 450 g of marzipan
  • 1 beaten egg, for glazing
  • Icing sugar, for dusting

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 150°C. Prepare an 18 cm round baking tin by buttering it and lining it with baking paper.

  2. In a large bowl, cream together the soft butter and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.

  3. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. If the mixture starts to curdle, mix in a little flour.

  4. Sift the flour and mixed spice into the mixture, and gently fold with a metal spoon or a spatula.

  5. Stir in the raisins, candied peel, chopped apricots, ground almonds, orange zest, and milk. Mix to combine all the ingredients.

  6. Place half of the mixture into the prepared tin. Roll out 200 g of marzipan, cut to a circle to fit the tin, and place it over the mixture in the tin.

  7. Add the remaining half of the mixture and level the top.

  8. Bake in the preheated oven for 2 hours and 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.

  9. Let the cake cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then transfer it onto a wire rack to cool completely.

  10. Roll out the remaining marzipan and cut 11 balls, symbolizing the faithful apostles (excluding Judas).

  11. Brush the top of the cake with the beaten egg and arrange the marzipan balls on top. Use the oven’s grill to lightly brown the marzipan (be careful not to burn it!).

  12. Dust with icing sugar before serving, if desired.

Curiosity

Simnel Cake is adorned with 11 marzipan balls representing the 11 apostles of Jesus, excluding Judas Iscariot. This cake is intensely aromatic and rich in fruitiness, with the sweetness of the marzipan marrying well with the spiced and fruity ingredients of the dough.