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​The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving) | |
---|---|
726 | Calories |
36g | Fat |
96g | Carbs |
12g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 10 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 726 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 36g | 46% |
Saturated Fat 12g | 61% |
Cholesterol 129mg | 43% |
Sodium 411mg | 18% |
Total Carbohydrate 96g | 35% |
Dietary Fiber 7g | 25% |
Protein 12g | |
Calcium 206mg | 16% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |
The simnel cake is a classic cake for Easter appears sometime around the end of Lent. The cake signifies the end of Lent which is a period of fasting and repentance culminating in a feast of seasonal and symbolic foods. The Simnel Cake recipe, however, is rich in fruits, spices, and marzipan, all forbidden during the period of Lent, and so ready to be enjoyed again.
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 pounds/560 grams almond paste (marzipan)
- 1 pound/450 grams dried mixed fruits (currants, raisins, sultanas, glace cherries)
- 3 ounces/80 grams candied peel (chopped)
- 8 ounces/225 grams plain flour (or all-purpose)
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg (freshly grated)
- 6 ounces/175 grams butter
- 6 ounces/175 grams fine sugar
- 3 large eggs (fresh and free-range, beaten)
- 2 tablespoons apricot jam
Steps to Make It
-
Gather the ingredients.
​The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck -
Heat the oven to 350 F.
-
Line a 7-inch cake tin with parchment or greaseproof paper.
​The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck -
Divide the almond paste into three portions and take one portion and roll it into a round the size of the cake tin.
​The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck -
In a large, roomy baking bowl, mix the mixed dried fruits and candied peel with the flour, salt, and spices.
​The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck -
In another large bowl, cream the butter with the sugar, until light and fluffy.
​The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck -
Add the beaten egg to the butter mixture a little bit at a time, beating well after each addition — don't try to rush this process as the batter could curdle. If it does, add a tablespoon of the flour and mix again, this should bring the mixture back together.
​The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck -
Carefully fold in half the flour and half the fruit into the egg and butter mixture, once incorporated repeat with the remaining flour and fruit.
​The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck -
Put half of the cake mixture into the tin, smooth and cover with the round of almond paste.
​The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck -
Put the remaining cake mixture into the tin and smooth the surface carefully.
​The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck -
Bake in the center of the oven for 1 hour.
​The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck -
Lower the heat to 300 F and bake for 1 1/2 hours more or (depending on your oven), until the cake is golden brown. To check if the cake is cooked, insert a skewer into the cake, it should come out clean and dry. If it is, remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin. If not, cook it a little longer.
​The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck -
Roll another third of almond paste, again to the size of the tin. Make the remaining almond paste equally into 11 tiny balls.
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Once the cake is completely cold, remove from the tin and brush the top of the cake with apricot jam and cover with the disc of almond paste.
​The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck -
Place the 11 tiny balls evenly around the edge. Brush them all over with a little apricot jam.
​The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck -
Place under a hot grill until lightly browned.
​The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck -
Decorate the cake as you wish with tiny Easter eggs or any other Easter theme.
​The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck -
Serve and enjoy!
​The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck