Simnel Cake A Traditional English Mothers Day Cake |
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Prep Time: 0 Minutes Cook Time: 105 Minutes |
Ready In: 105 Minutes Servings: 12 |
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An iced fruit-type cake for Mother's Day in England. It takes a while to make, but it's very beautiful when completed. Ingredients:
9oz/250g plain flour |
pinch of salt |
1 tsp grated nutmeg |
1 tps ground cinnamon |
rind of 1 lemon, grated |
2oz/50g glace cherries |
2oz/50g chopped dried citrus peel |
6oz/175g golden raisins |
6oz/175g plain raisins |
4 1/2oz/125g currants |
6oz/175g butter |
60z/175 golden caster sugar or finely ground demerrara sugar |
3 eggs, beaten |
2tbsp milk |
18oz/500g almond paste (marzipan) |
1tbsp apricot jam |
Directions:
1. Preheat oven 350F/170C/150C fan/ Gas Mark 3
2. Grease and line the base and sides of a 8inch/20cm round deep cake pan.
3. Mix flour, salt, spices, grated lemon rind, cherries and dried fruit in a large bowl.
4. In another bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy
5. Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture until evenly mixed, then add the milk to lighten the mixture a little.
6. Pour half the batter into the prepared tin.
7. Dust the worktop with icing sugar and roll out 7oz/200g of the marzipan into a 7 3/4 / 19cm circle. Place on top of the batter in the pan, then top with the rest of the batter.
8. Level the top and place into the center of the oven for 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours until golden and firm to the touch.
9. Cool completely, then turn out of the cake pan and remove the paper.
10. To decorate, roll out an 8 inch circle of marzipan and 12 small balls of marzipan,
11. Brush the top of the cake with the apricot jam and place the circle on top, crimping the edges with your finger and thumb. Arrrange the small balls on top.
12. You may grill the top until it is a golden color, or leave white.
13. If you wish you can use a 20 oz bag of luxury mixed dried fruit instead of buying separate bags of dried fruit so you won't have any leftovers.
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