RECIPE: Easter Simnel Cake

<p>This traditional Easter fruit cake is a personal favourite mainly because it’s topped with toasted marzipan and also cooked with a layer of marzipan inside. The top is traditionally decorated with 11 marzipan balls to represent the 12 apostles (minus Judas), however I personally prefer to make a marzipan plait but you can decorate with chocolate eggs if you like. Either way it’s a great almond cake that gives you a chance to use up the marzipan and bags of fruit left over from the Christmas cake...</p> <p>By Graham Davies | 27th March 2013</p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p><img src="http://www.thegayuk.com/communities/8/004/009/928/388/images/4589642175.jpg" width="461" height="402" alt="Simnel Cake by Graham Davies" title="Simnel Cake by Graham Davies"/></p> <p></p> <p>Cooking Time: 1hr 45mins (Pre heat the oven to 150c)</p> <p>You Will Need: A 20cm or 8’ cake tin lined with greaseproof paper.</p> <p></p> <p>Ingredients:</p> <p>250g Butter</p> <p>250g Dark Soft Brown Sugar</p> <p>250g Plain Flour</p> <p>4 Eggs</p> <p>Pinch Salt</p> <p>1.5 tsp Mixed Spice</p> <p>450g Raisins & Sultanas</p> <p>70g Mixed Peel</p> <p>1 Lemon Zest</p> <p>Apricot Jam</p> <p>450g Marzipan</p> <p></p> <p>Method:</p> <p>1) Cream the butter and the sugar together in a bowl.</p> <p>2) Mix in the eggs one at a time</p> <p>3) Add the flour, salt and mixed spice and mix in</p> <p>4) Finally add the raisins, sultanas, mixed peel and zest of a lemon mixing for a final time</p> <p>5) Place half the mixture into your prepared tin and spread out flat</p> <p>6) Next add a layer of marzipan to the uncooked mix leaving a 1cm space around the edge. </p> <p>7) Next add the remaining mixture on top of the marzipan and level off the top. Place into the pre-heated oven and cook for 1hr and 45mins.</p> <p>8) Once cooked leave out to cool before pasting the top of the cake with a hot apricot jam (40 seconds in a microwave should be enough). Whilst the apricot is sticky add a layer of marzipan and any marzipan decorations you wish to add to the top. Place the cake under a hot grill until the marzipan starts to turn a golden brown.</p> <p>9) Again leave to cool before adding any chocolate eggs or serving with a cup of tea. </p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p><img src="http://www.thegayuk.com/communities/8/004/009/928/388/images/4586001108.jpg" width="380" height="28" alt="" title=""/></p> <p><a href="http://www.thegayuk.com/#/magazine/4574334751/RECIPE-Double-Chocolate-Sea-Salt-Brownies/5121867">Double Chocolate Sea Salt Brownies</a></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://www.thegayuk.com/#/magazine/4574334751/RECIPE-Traditional-Irish-Brown-Soda-Bread/5152499">Traditional Irish Brown Soda Bread</a></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://www.thegayuk.com/easter">Competition: Easter Competition</a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p> </p>