As a country we seem to love fruit cakes for celebrations. Christmas cake and wedding cake and then this Simnel Cake for Easter. There are signs that times are a changing of course with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry choosing a lighter Elderflower and Lemon Cake for their wedding but I do hope we keep the Simnel Cake as part of our Easter traditions just as it has been for centuries.
Simnel cake has a layer of marzipan running through the middle and with yet more marzipan, this time toasted, on top. It seems to be a particular favourite with everyone I know. Not as rich as Christmas it is traditionally nowadays made for Easter with the eleven marzipan balls on top representing the apostles minus Judas.
The marzipan centre makes the cake very moist as it kind of melts into the cake. The marzipan on the top is toasted with a blow torch which gives the whole cake another dimension. I can’t resist adding chocolate mini eggs to the centre but they really aren’t necessary. Just cute! Continue reading
