Simnel Cake with 11 Marzipan Apostles (no Judas) and Primroses.
Simnel Cake was originally baked for Mothering Sunday but has now become associated with Easter. Grease and line a 7 inch cake tin. Preheat the oven to 325F, gas 3 or 165c. Cream ½ lb of unsalted butter with grated rind of two lemons and ½ lb of caster sugar until light and fluffy. Add four eggs slowly, beating as you go. Now stir in 6 oz of mixed candied peel, 6oz sultanas, 1¼ lb currants. Sift 14 oz plain flour with a pinch of salt and a small teaspoon of baking powder and the same of mixed spice. Gently fold in. If it seems very stiff loosen with a dash of milk. Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and cook for about 3 hours. Test with a skewer and cook a little longer if it comes out of the cake sticky. Turn onto a rack to cool and make the almond topping. Mix together 4oz ground almonds with 4oz icing sugar. Add half a lightly beaten egg and a few drops of lemon juice. Knead the paste till smooth. Then, using two thirds of the paste roll out a 7 inch circle to fit the top of the cake. Form little balls with the remaining paste to represent the 11 Apostles, excluding Judas, and place them on the cake with crystallised flowers or pre-Christian Easter Eggs to celebrate Spring.
Sally Vincent
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I have never heard of this cake before. It looks and sounds wonderful.When I get a chance I am going to give this a try.
Thank you
Posted by: Julie | April 02, 2007 at 07:46 PM
Hiya,
Lovely thought but you have 12 marzipan balls on your cake so judas is in there, albeit serruptitiously and repentantly.
As modernity progresses, the marzipan balls are commonly replaced by chicks and 'mini-eggs'[as my clients usually ask for) but I do get requests for the desciples too. I much pefer to make a cake with a more Easter-orintated theme with,for example, the tomb of Jesus with the stone removed (that is of course where we get our head-stone from in modern burials - I'm personally going to be cremated and sent up in a rocket)!
Posted by: Deedees1000 | April 09, 2007 at 11:08 PM
Hiya,
Lovely thought but you have 12 marzipan balls on your cake so judas is in there, albeit serruptitiously and repentantly.
As modernity progresses, the marzipan balls are commonly replaced by chicks and 'mini-eggs'[as my clients usually ask for) but I do get requests for the desciples too. I much pefer to make a cake with a more Easter-orintated theme with,for example, the tomb of Jesus with the stone removed (that is of course where we get our head-stone from in modern burials - I'm personally going to be cremated and sent up in a rocket)!
Posted by: Deedees1000 | April 09, 2007 at 11:17 PM
OOPS - SORRY I HAVE DONE YOU AN INJUSTICE and I do apologise profusely, as there are absolutely only 11 deciples in the form of Marzipan balls and Judas is not amongst them!
Perhaps I have partaken in too much home made cabbage wine over the festive Easter weekend (and in particular this evening as i don't need to drive anywhere)!
Perhaps it's time for me to go up in that rocket! No further rocket fuel required..!
Posted by: Deedees | April 09, 2007 at 11:33 PM