I am planning on baking this cake on Saturday, looks delicious. Chop the cherries very finely and add them to the rest of the fruit. Cream the butter and sugar until very soft and light, and add the lemon zest. Which includes other traditional Easter recipes such as Maltese figolli biscuits as well as some fun Easter bakes like my Mini Egg cookies. Remove the cake from the tin and transfer it to a cooling rack and allow it to cool completely. Can you suggest how to adjust the cake to reduce the calories per portion? Simnel and white chocolate cookies - Best biscuit and cookie recipes 2021 These American-style cookies are inspired by simnel cake, with almonds, raisins and spice. Tips For Making The Perfect Fruit Cocktail Cake. Orangeat (candied orange peel) and candied citrus peel (Zitronat), raisins and almonds, and various spices such as cardamom and cinnamon are added. Split the remaining marzipan (110g) into 11 equal sized pieces. Add 1 of the eggs to the creamed butter and sugar with 2 tablespoons of the dry flour-and-spice ingredients, then beat in the remaining eggs in the same way. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Tuck into crumbles, casseroles and cakes to see why! Its crumbly and delicious desert for the whole family. To compliment the marzipan and to really pack in the flavour, my dried fruit is soaked in Amaretto liqueur (although I’ve got plenty of alternative suggestions for soaking your fruit if you want to avoid alcohol or don’t have any Amaretto). Simnel Cake is the traditional cake eaten at Easter and I remembering making this with my mum every year. Besides currants, the filling typically includes mixed peel, brown sugar, rum, and nutmeg. Take 300g of your your marzipan and roll it out into a circle the same size as your cake. I make this a very light fruit cake, totally different in taste and texture from the damp, dark offerings of Christmas. For US cup measures, use the toggle at the top of the ingredients list. Keep it simple: One of the best things about this cake is that it’s so simple to make even without being a fruit cocktail cake with cake mix. Making a cake from scratch is easier than you think! Fold in the mixed dried fruit. The traditional cake is made with a layer of marzipan in the middle and on top and has 11 marzipan balls to represent the apostles - with Judas left out because of his betrayal. Absolutely lovely and moist and fruity. Nigella's Chocolate Fruit Cake (from FEAST) and Incredibly Easy Chocolate Fruit Cake (from NIGELLA CHRISTMAS are both simple to make as they are boil, mix and bake cakes and don't require pre-soaking of fruits. Ingredients. These are raised cakes, with a crust made of fine flour and water, coloured yellow with saffron, and filled with a very rich plum-cake, with plenty of candied lemon peel, and dried fruits. First make the marzipan. And if you love marzipan, you’re in for a treat… Who is it suitable for? Ingredients and equipment. Measure the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger and ground almonds into a bowl and stir to combine. I find that when I soak the fruit overnight, the majority of the liquid is absorbed into the fruit so there’s no need to drain it before adding it to the cake mixture. Also sitting on top of the cake and lightly toasted are … Homemade marizpan will make it that much more special. Usually a simnel cake is a round cake, made with two layers of fruitcake, sandwiched together with a layer of marzipan (almond paste). A traditional way of breaking the Lenten fast is to eat some simnel cake. Preheat the oven to gas mark 3/170°C/150°C Fan/325°F. Simnel Cake is a traditional Easter cake. Let it cool completely on a rack before you spring it open. No, this cake is also delicious without it. Bake for 1½-1¾ hours, until golden brown and firm to the touch. Let it cool completely on a rack before you spring it open. Thanks. Definitely, definitely, definitely a cake I will make again. A simnel cake today is a light fruit cake that appears around Mother's Day and Easter. It has a layer of marzipan baked in the middle and a second layer on top. Alternatively you can give each marzipan ball a short blast with a blow torch to achieve the same effect or just grill the balls before placing them on top of the cake. Much lighter and with less alcohol than a Christmas cake, the main defining feature is the two layers of marzipan in the cake, one through the cake (as in the picture below) and one on top of the cake. This classic fruit cake is traditionally baked at Easter: the eleven balls of marzipan on top represent Jesus's disciples, minus Judas. British roast beef is only half the story: at last the world has recognised that our native cuisine is well worth a detour. The best known however, is the Shrewsbury Simnel with its layer of marzipan in the middle of a rich fruit cake and this type of cake is the one we mostly think of as bearing the name Simnel Cake today. The ingredients I used to make this recipe are all free from the following allergens. Three generations of us enjoying this treat of a came. Cut it into a 20cm / 8 inch circle which will fit in the middle of the cake later. 4 Next, evenly sift the dried ingredients into another large mixing bowl. What is Simnel cake? For the almond paste, place the sugar and ground almonds in a bowl. Do I have to include the marzipan decoration? Delia's Chicken Cacciatora recipe. Simnel cake is a light fruit cake with two layers of almond paste or marzipan, one in the middle and one on top, that is toasted, and traditionally eaten at Easter but will last a … To make sure each person having a slice of cake gets a marzipan ball on top I’ve said this serves 11. you could also use dark brown or muscovado sugar. The Simnel cake signifies the end of Lent, the period of 40 days which comes before Easter. When the cake is cool, put the apricot jam into a small saucepan over a low-medium heat for a few minutes, stirring, until it has softened and become more liquid. The 11 or 12 balls of marzipan (or … Only had some small cake tins and a bun tin so adjusted the times. The earliest breads were unleavened. Tip half the cake mixture into the prepared cake tin and smooth the top. Please refer to my guide to Charlotte’s Lively Kitchen nutritional information if you would like to learn more about how this is calculated. And Simnel cake is the ultimate Easter blow-out. Pop your cake under the grill until your marzipan ball have started to brown on top (keep a close eye on your cake as the colour can turn very quickly). Other spirits such as brandy (this would be especially good if you want to make a Christmas version of this cake). Mark a criss-cross pattern on the marzipan with a sharp knife. The Simnel cake (sometimes called the Easter Cake) was originally the cake of Mothering Sunday. Simnel Cupcakes I usually make small cakes in fairy cake cases , on the grounds that a small bite is all you need to feel indulged, but not over-indulged. Chocolate and almond simnel cake; Simnel cake is a traditional fruit cake eaten at Easter and decorated with marzipan and almonds. Cut it into a 20cm / 8 inch circle which will fit in the middle of the cake later. Add enough beaten egg and mix to a fairly soft consistency. Simnel is really a lightly spiced fruit cake with a layer of marzipan baked into it and topped with another layer of marzipan. The fruit sponge should be lighter and less heavily-laden with fruit than its Christmas cake cousin. Thank you Nigella. It’s fine not to if there’s only a little bit (which is what I had). I’ve based this recipe on my very popular marzipan and cherry cake, but I’ve made a few tweaks to ensure the cake works well with all the extra fruit that’s been added. As this cake contains (a lot of) marzipan it is a higher in calories than some other cakes. Required fields are marked *. The first layer of marzipan is baked in the middle of the cake and the second layer is used to decorate the top of the cake. A Banbury cake is a spiced, oval-shaped, currant-filled pastry.Since the mid-1800s Banbury cakes have grown more similar to Eccles cake but the earlier versions of Banbury cakes are quite different from the modern pastry. Dating back to the Middle Ages, this marzipan-topped fruit cake was originally eaten in Britain and Ireland on Mothering Sunday, held on the fourth Sunday of Lent, but went on to become an Easter cake over time. Make sure you defrost the cake thoroughly before serving. Copyright © 2021 Charlotte's Lively Kitchen. Now for the bit I love, but you can ignore altogether. But it’s not crucial, not least because the intention with fruit cakes is not to whip air into them. What can I use as an alternative to Amaretto liqueur to soak my fruit? Servants used to visit their families on the 4th Sunday in lent (Mother’s Day) and treat them to the cake. Chocolate Simnel Cake (Marzipan from April 2010 issue of Good Food, Cake from Nigella Lawson's Feast ) For the chocolate marzipan: 85g golden caster sugar 100g icing sugar 200g whole almonds 50g dark cocoa powder 1 egg, plus 1 egg yolk As I prefer grinding almonds myself, I put the almonds in my food processor and blasted them till fine. I suspect all dried fruit behaves a bit differently. I’ve chosen to soak my fruit in Amaretto liqueur as this really compliments the almond in the sponge and the marzipan. I have to confess that to ensure that my marzipan balls were evenly spaced I raided my boys’ maths kit and used a protractor to mark where they needed to be. Classic hot cross buns Sprinkle your work surface and rolling pin with a little icing sugar. If you want to surprise your guests-bake Fruit cake. Stollen is a cake-like fruit bread made with yeast, water and flour, and usually with zest added to the dough. You could do this by hand, just with bowl and wooden spoon, but I own up to using my freestanding mixer here. Make 11 apostle balls out of the remaining marzipan, roughly 2.5cm / 1 inch in size. You recommend soaking the fruit for 24 hours, can I soak it for less time? Draining it was the right thing to do. If you’re looking for some more Easter baking inspiration head on over to my Easter recipe index. Topped with caramelised marzipan, this traditional Easter cake is laced with cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg and bursting with dried fruit. What is this recipe free from? Made to celebrate Easter and also associated with Mothering Sunday, Simnel cake is basically a fruit cake. A light, spiced fruit cake which is topped and filled with marzipan. Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and leave it to cool in the tin for about 20 minutes. Cream the butter and sugar until very soft and light, and add the lemon zest. Measure the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger and almond meal into a bowl and stir to combine. Simnel Cupcakes are crammed with fruit and marzipan, flavoured with orange, and topped with icing and chocolate eggs - a perfect Easter teatime treat. Welcome to my lively kitchen where I share delicious, simple baking recipes, baking tools and calculators, and lots of tips and tricks. I didn’t change anything, and even blow torched the top and it’s amazing! For the cake, in a large bowl using a handheld electric whisk, beat butter, sugar, flour, mixed spice, eggs and ¼tsp fine salt, until combined. Grease and line a 28cm cake tin. ... Our classic fruit cake with vine fruits and glacé cherries . Originally, this cake was made for Mothering Sunday, but it has for a long, long time been an essential Easter confection, the marzipan balls on top representing the apostles: eleven in total as, for understandable reasons, Judas is persona non grata. Many Simnel cakes have a layer of marzipan running through the centre. Simnel cake is a traditional British cake which is popular in the run up to Easter. Mothering… Method. Method. So why not change things up with our Mini Eggs simnel cake? To ruffle the edges as I have done in the images, place a finger below the marzipan circle and gently push down either side (you need to be careful doing this to ensure you don't split the marzipan). Traditionally, Simnel Cake enjoys an extra layer of marzipan on top of the cake… Which is then further topped with eleven (and that’s specifically eleven) balls of Marzipan round the edges. However, if you’re simply after a delicious light fruit cake with hints of almond then this cake is perfect without the decoration. Form the remaining marzipan into 11 balls. The Simnel cake is rich with fruits, spices, and marzipan, all forbidden during the period of Lent. Press firmly on the top and crimp the edges to decorate. We Brits do seem to love a fruit cake! This collections features some fantastic cake recipes that will taste amazing, whether you suffer from an intolerance or are just looking to cut back on gluten and wheat. I think my Mum would be impressed. Dust a surface with a little icing sugar and then roll out about 400g / 14oz of the marzipan. The batter is made with flour, light brown sugar, milk and eggs and flavoured with mixed spice and orange or lemon zest. Sticky and rich in flavour, this easy Simnel cake is lighter — in texture and colour — than the Christmas fruit cake. This is my version of the famous Italian classic – best made in the autumn when there's a glut of red, ripe, full-flavoured tomatoes, but it's still good in winter, as there are now some well-flavoured varieties available. So moist. This Simnel Cake won’t last as long as fruit cakes laced with alcohol. Line a deep 20cm cake tin with greaseproof paper or reusuable baking liners. Easter without a lovely Simnel cake is not quite the same, but making the same recipe over and over again could become quite tedious. View Now Add To Basket. ... caramelised marzipan, this traditional Easter cake is laced with cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg and bursting with dried fruit. Don't subscribeAllReplies to my comments If you would like to be notified of any replies to your comment please select "Replies to my comments". I also weighed the marzipan for each of the balls to ensure that there was exactly 10g in each one. It also helps to ensure that any fruit on the surface of the cake doesn’t burn while it’s in the oven. They are also very moist cakes so they don't need to be made far in advance and matured or fed with alcohol. Subscribe to the Charlotte’s Lively Kitchen mailing list to get your FREE printable grams to cups and cups to grams conversion charts for twelve popular baking ingredients. Take everything you need out of the fridge so it can get to room temperature. My Simnel cake is decorated with marzipan as that’s one of the key elements of a traditional Simnel cake. A Simnel Cake is a baked fruit cake. Beat well after after adding the first egg before adding the second. You could do this by hand, just with bowl and wooden spoon, but I own up to using my freestanding mixer here. Simnel cake There is some debate about the origins of the Simnel cake. The cake is then topped with a second layer of marzipan and 11 lightly toasted marzipan balls, said to represent Jesus’ disciples (minus Judas! Place your chopped glace cherries and dried mixed fruit (300g) into a large bowl. Easter, is not Easter without a gluten-free Simnel cake. Put the cake mixture into your prepared tin and bake for c. 1 hour 20 minutes until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clear. Usually my 20cm round cakes serve 12. I wanted to make the Simnel cake a bit more up to date, so this Modern Simnel Cake is made in two layers, with a filling of almond buttercream and the sponge is a little lighter with less fruit. Beat in the rest of the dry ingredients, and then the milk. Soak the dried fruit in water or tea instead of Amaretto liqueur. Charlotte’s Lively Kitchen nutritional information, recieve a notification of comment replies, American Pancakes (Quick, Easy and Really Delicious), Birthday Cake (All-In-One Vanilla Sponge). Add the eggs (2 large) one at a time. Any nutritional information provided is the estimated nutritional information per serving. And from this strange alleged culinary mishap the cake of today eventually emerged.The Devizes Simnel is by tradition made in the shape of a star, while the Bury simnel cake is a flat spiced cake. A Simnel cake is a type of fruit cake that contains plenty of marzipan and is eaten at Easter, although it used to be specifically associated with Mothering Sunday. If it’s your first time making this recipe or you have a question, please take a moment to have a read through my FAQs for some extra tips and allergen information. The reason I’ve stated it serves 11 is down to the fact that a Simnel cake traditionally includes 11 balls of marzipan as decoration (one for each of Jesus’ apostles minus the traitor Judas). The 12th ball is not included as Judas, who betrayed Jesus is not to be represented. While the cake cools, take the remaining two-thirds of the marzipan; roll one-third out into an 18cm circle to cover the top of the cake, and use the other to make 11 evenly-sized small balls. Bake for 1 ¼ to 1 ½ hours until golden brown and firm in the middle, cool. When folk were fasting during Lent, Mothering Sunday, appearing in the middle of the fast, offered a respite from 40 days of religious austerity. Butter and line the bottom and sides of a 20cm / 8 inch springform cake tin with a double layer of brown baking paper. Hot cross bun cruffins with white chocolate sauce; Cruffins are a hybrid between a croissant and a muffin, and the results are flaky and delicious! Bake for half an hour and then turn the oven down to gas mark 2/150°C/130°C Fan/300°F for another 1½ hours or until the cake has risen and is firm on top. It will keep for up to 5 days in an airtight container. Bake for half an hour and then turn the oven down to gas mark 2/150°C/130°C Fan/300°F for another 1½ hours or until the cake has risen and is firm on top.