Delicious and Traditional Easter Simnel Cake Recipe with Marzipan and Spices

This Easter Simnel Cake recipe is a traditional British dessert made with a rich fruit cake base, filled with homemade marzipan, and topped with another layer of marzipan. It's a delicious and festive treat perfect for Easter celebrations!

Ingredients

• 250g mixed dried fruits (such as raisins, sultanas, currants)
• 50g candied peel, chopped
• Juice and zest of 1 orange
• 175g butter, softened
• 175g light muscovado sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 250g self-raising flour
• 1 tsp mixed spice
• 200g marzipan, plus extra for decoration
• 2 tbsp apricot jam

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 150°C and line a 20cm round cake tin with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, mix the dried fruits, candied peel, orange juice, and zest. Leave to soak for 30 minutes.
3. In a separate bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time.
4. Fold in the flour and mixed spice until well combined, then stir in the fruit mixture.
5. Pour half of the mixture into the prepared cake tin, then roll out the marzipan and place on top of the mixture.
6. Add the remaining cake mixture on top of the marzipan and smooth the surface.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 1.5 hours or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
8. Allow the cake to cool in the tin before removing.
9. Roll out some extra marzipan to fit the top of the cake. Brush the top of the cake with apricot jam and place the marzipan on top.
10. Use a fork to create a pattern on the marzipan and trim any excess.
11. You can also decorate the top with marzipan balls and brush with a little more apricot jam to glaze.

Interesting Facts