lauralovescakes... Weekly Bake Off Simnel Cake from lauralovescakes.blogspot.com
Introduction
Simnel cake is a traditional Easter cake that originated from the United Kingdom. This cake is fruity, moist, and has a layer of marzipan in the middle and on top. It is usually decorated with eleven marzipan balls that represent the twelve apostles, minus Judas. In this article, we will be sharing a recipe on how to make a delicious Simnel cake that you can enjoy during the Easter season with your loved ones.
Ingredients
For the cake:
250g unsalted butter, softened
250g light brown sugar
4 large eggs, beaten
250g self-raising flour, sifted
100g ground almonds
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp mixed spice
250g sultanas
250g currants
100g candied peel
Zest of 1 orange and 1 lemon
2 tbsp apricot jam
500g marzipan
For the decoration:
Egg wash (1 beaten egg)
A few drops of yellow food coloring
Icing sugar, for dusting
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 150°C/300°F/Gas Mark 2. 2. Grease and line a deep 20cm/8inch round cake tin with baking paper. 3. In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. 4. Gradually add the beaten eggs, mixing well after each addition. 5. Sift in the self-raising flour, baking powder and mixed spice, then add the ground almonds. Fold the dry ingredients into the mixture. 6. Add the sultanas, currants, candied peel, and zest of 1 orange and 1 lemon. Mix well until everything is combined. 7. Take half of the marzipan and roll it out to the size of the cake tin. Place it in the bottom of the tin. 8. Spoon half of the cake mixture on top of the marzipan layer, making sure it is level. 9. Roll out the remaining marzipan to the same size as the tin, and place it on top of the cake mixture. 10. Spoon the remaining cake mixture on top of the marzipan layer, again making sure it is level. 11. Bake the cake in the preheated oven for 2 and a half to 3 hours or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. 12. Once the cake has cooled, brush the top with apricot jam. 13. Roll out the remaining marzipan into 11 balls, and place them around the edge of the cake. 14. Brush the marzipan balls with egg wash and a few drops of yellow food coloring. 15. Preheat your grill to high, and place the cake under the grill for a few minutes until the marzipan is golden brown. 16. Remove the cake from the grill and let it cool completely. 17. Dust the cake with icing sugar before serving.
Nutrition
This delicious Simnel cake recipe serves 12 people and contains approximately 645 calories per serving. It is high in carbohydrates, with 95g per serving, and moderate in fat, with 26g per serving. It also contains 11g of protein and 5g of fiber per serving.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoy making and eating this delicious Simnel cake recipe. This cake is perfect for celebrating Easter with your loved ones, and the marzipan balls on top make it a visually stunning addition to any Easter table. Remember to share your creations with us on social media using the hashtag #SimnelCakeRecipe. Happy baking!
