Traditional Simnel Cake Recipes

TRADITIONAL EASTER SIMNEL CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 170°C (150°C fan) mark 3. Grease a 20.5cm (8in) round cake tin with butter and line with baking parchment.
• In a large bowl, stir together flour, mixed spice and dried fruit until combined. Put the butter, muscovado sugar, syrup and lemon zest into a separate large bowl and beat together using a handheld electric whisk until pale and fluffy, about 3min. Gradually beat in eggs, whisking well after each addition. Add flour mixture and fold everything together with a large metal spoon.
• Empty mixture into prepared tin and bake, covering with foil after 1hr of cooking, for 1hr 25min, or until cake is risen and springy to the touch. A skewer inserted into the centre should come out clean, but don't be tempted to test too early or the cake may sink. Leave to cool completely in tin.
• Take cake out of tin, peel off parchment and transfer to a serving plate. To decorate, dust the work surface with icing sugar and roll out two-thirds of the marzipan until large enough for a 20.5cm (8in) circle (cut round base of cake tin). Heat jam with 1tsp water in a small pan over a medium heat until runny. Brush the top of the cake with some jam, then lay the marzipan circle on top and gently press down to stick. Using a small knife, score lines on top of the cake to make a diamond pattern. Crimp the edge of the marzipan using the thumb and forefinger of one hand, and the index finger of the other.
• Roll remaining marzipan into 11 equal-sized balls. Brush the underside of each with a little jam or water and stick to the top of the cake. If you like, use a blowtorch to lightly brown the marzipan. Serve in slices.

TRADITIONAL SIMNEL CAKE

Steps:

• First make the marzipan. Sift the icing sugar into a large bowl and stir in the caster sugar and almonds.
• Beat the eggs with the almond extract and lemon juice in a separate bowl. Stir into the dry ingredients with a large spoon until the mixture begins to come together. Use your hands to continue combining the mixture into a stiff, but pliable paste.
• Dust the work surface with more sifted icing sugar and knead the marzipan for a minute or two until smooth. Return to the bowl, cover tightly with cling film and leave to stand for 1-2 hours before using. This will allow the almonds to swell and absorb some of the moisture from the egg mixture. (Please note: this recipe contains raw eggs.)
• To make the cake, put the orange and lemon juice in a non-stick saucepan and add the dried fruit and cherries. Bring to a simmer over a medium heat and bubble for two minutes, stirring constantly until the liquid disappears. Remove from the heat, tip onto a large plate and leave to cool.
• Butter and line the base and sides of a 20cm/8in loose-based deep round cake tin with two layers of baking parchment. Mix the flour and mixed spice in a large bowl. Whisk the eggs together in another bowl.
• Preheat the oven to 170C/150C (fan)/Gas 3.
• Put the butter and sugar into an electric food mixer and beat for 3-4 minutes, or until very light and fluffy. You will have to push the mixture down a couple of times with a rubber spatula. (If you don't have a food mixer, use electric beaters and a very large bowl. Do not use a food processor for this recipe.)
• Slowly add the beaten eggs, a little at a time, beating well after each addition. If you add them too quickly the batter may curdle, so you'll need to beat in a couple of tablespoons of the flour mixture and then continue.
• Turn off the motor and add all the flour mixture to the batter in two batches. Beat in very slowly then remove the bowl from the stand, if necessary, and stir in the dried fruit and orange and lemon zest. Spoon just half of the mixture into the lined cake tin and smooth the surface as evenly as you can. Set the rest of the cake batter aside.
• Dust a sheet of baking parchment with sifted icing sugar. Divide the marzipan into three equal balls. Take one of the balls and roll out on the parchment into a circle around 5mm thick and about 2cm/¾in larger than the cake tin. Place the cake tin on top of the rolled marzipan and use it as a template to cut out a circle around 1cm/½in larger than the tin.
• Place the round of marzipan carefully on top of the cake mixture in the tin, making sure it reaches the sides.
• Spoon the reserved cake mixture on top and smooth the surface. Wrap the remaining marzipan portions tightly in cling film to prevent them drying out.
• Bake the cake for about 1 hour 20 minutes, or until well risen, firm and golden-brown. If you are unsure about whether the cake is ready, poke a long metal skewer carefully into the centre. Try not to remove the cake from the oven for testing, or it could sink, but take care not to burn yourself.
• If the cake is ready, the skewer should come out clean. If not, close the oven and continue cooking for longer then test again. You may want to cover the cake loosely with some foil if the top is beginning to brown too much before it is ready in the middle. When it is cooked, remove the cake from the oven but leave it to cool in the tin for 15 minutes. Then remove from the tin, peel off the lining paper, put the cake on a wire rack and leave to cool.
• To decorate, turn the cooled cake upside down and place on a baking tray or grill pan. (Turning the cake upside down will give you a flatter surface for decorating.)
• Heat the apricot jam in a small non-stick saucepan for one minute, until warm, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat. Dust a sheet of baking parchment with more sifted icing sugar.
• Take one of the marzipan balls and roll out on the parchment into a circle around 5mm thick and just a little larger than the cake tin. Place the cake tin on top of the rolled marzipan and use it as a template to cut out a circle the same size as the tin.
• Brush the surface of the cake with the warm jam and cover with the marzipan circle. Flute or pinch the marzipan all the way around the edge. Using the tip of a knife, score a criss-cross pattern over the marzipan in two directions at roughly 2.5cm/1in intervals.
• Form the remaining marzipan into 11 balls to represent all the Apostles, minus Judus. Each of the balls needs to weigh 16-20g/½-¾oz so you will have a little marzipan leftover - you don't want the balls to be ridiculously large. Dab one side of each ball with a little of the jam and place around the edge of the cake.
• Place the cake under a preheated hot grill - around 15-20cm/6-8in from the element - for 2-3 minutes, or until lightly toasted. Watch the marizpan carefully so that it doesn't burn. Leave to cool.
• Transfer the cake to a board or cake plate and wrap with a wide yellow ribbon. Cut into slices to serve.

TRADITIONAL BRITISH MOTHERING SUNDAY SIMNEL CAKE

Steps:

• CHECK LIST: a sifter, nest of bowls, food processor or electric beater, spatula, wooden spoon, 24 cm round cake tin, baking paper, brown paper and twine, rolling pin, thin metal skewer.
• STAGE 1.
• To make your own almond paste you will need a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Don't be tempted to use store-bought almond paste because it contains lots of sugar and few almonds, it will turn to liquid under the grill.
• Place icing sugar and almonds in food processor bowl. Process, slowly dripping in egg yolk, orange juice and almond essence. The mixture should form a pliable paste.
• Set aside a small portion for balls with which to decorate the cake.
• Roll out the remaining paste into 2 circles which are the approximate size of the tin. Set aside.
• STAGE 2.
• Preheat oven to 160°C/320°F.
• Use a sturdy non-stick cake tub or line the buttered base with baking paper. As the baking period is long (1-1 1/2 hours), prevent the cake drying out by wrapping a double thickness of brown paper around the pan and securing it with twine.
• Sift flour, salt and spices together, then stir in fruit and peel.
• Cream butter and sugar thoroughly until light and creamy then beat in eggs one at a time, until the mixture is fluffy. (Reserve a drop of egg yolk for brushing over top layer of almond paste.).
• Stir flour and fruit into creamed mixture (you may need to add a little milk to give the mixture a dropping consistency).
• STAGE 3.
• Place half the mixture into a greased and lined cake tin.
• Place one pre-rolled round of almond paste over the top.
• Cover with remaining cake mixture. Before baking the cake, give the pan of mixture a sharp tap on to a firm surface. This settles the mixture and prevents holes from forming in the cake.
• Bake in the centre of the oven for 1-1 1/4 hours or until a thin metal skewer inserted in the centre of the cake comes out without a trace of stickiness.
• Level the cake by placing a weighted plate on top of the cooked cake while it is still hot.
• Turn out cake on to a wire rack after leaving it to settle in the cake tin for between 10 and 15 minutes. Peel off paper and leave to cool completely.
• STAGE 4.
• Cover the top of the cake with a second round of almond paste. Roll 11 small balls of paste and place evenly around the top of the cake. Brush the top with a little beaten egg and very lightly brown under the grill until the almond paste turns light golden brown.
• Remove and leave to cool.