Recipe No. 26 - Simnel Cake

Happy Easter Everyone!

I've been a bit busy this week so am finally getting around to typing up about the Simnel cake I made on Monday.
Prior to actually making this cake I've never tried Simnel Cake but this blog - and the up and coming Easter weekend has given me that little push in the right direction. I don't know why I've never actually tried it as I love both fruit cake and marzipan but anyway...

Ok so this starts out as a relatively simple fruit cake, however whilst you are filling the tin with the mixture when it reaches halfway a layer of rolled out marzipan is placed on top and then the remaining mixture added. This is baked for 30 minutes at a higher temperature and then at a lower for an hour although I think in future 50 minutes would suffice for my oven.

The cake is then left to cool for about 2-3 hours. Once cool heated apricot jam is spread on top and a layer of marzipan is added along with marzipan balls to represent the disciples. This depends on your opinions of Judas whether you add 11 or 12 balls. I went with 12 but only because it was easier to space the balls evenly. Diagonal lines are scored across the top and the cake is placed under the grill to brown the marzipan.

 Diagonal lines are scored across the top and the cake is placed under the grill to brown the marzipan.

Finished!

This cake was lovely, not too heavy and the layer of marzipan keeps the centre of the cake nice and moist.