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Traditional Simnel Cake

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Traditional Simnel Cake

This traditional simnel cake is spicy, moist and fruity, with delicious marzipan running through the centre and over the top.

  • Vegetarian
Preparation time:
30 minutes, plus soaking and cooling
Cooking time:
135 minutes to 150 minutes
Total time:
2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours 60 minutes 60 minutes 60 minutes
Serves:
 16

Ingredients

  • 175g caster sugar, plus extra to sprinkle
  • 500g bag Waitrose Mixed Dried Fruits
  • 150 g sultanas
  • 5 tbsp orange-flavoured liqueur
  • 175g unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 pieces stem ginger from a jar, coarsely grated, plus 1 tbsp of the syrup
  • 3 eggs, beaten
  • 225 g plain flour
  • 1 tsp freshly ground nutmeg
  • 2 tsp ground mixed spice
  • 500g Cook's Ingredients White Marzipan
  • Icing sugar, for dusting

Method

  1. Mix all the dried fruits in a bowl with the liqueur and leave to stand for 1 hour. Grease and line an 18cm cake tin with non-stick baking parchment. Preheat the oven to 150°C, gas mark 2.
  2. Put the butter, sugar and grated ginger in a large bowl and beat well until pale and creamy. Gradually beat in the eggs, adding a little of the flour if the mixture starts to curdle. Stir in the flour and spices, then the dried fruit with any juices left in the bowl. Mix well.
  3. Using about a quarter of the marzipan, make 11 oval balls, about the size of a mini egg, and set aside. Shape half of the remaining marzipan into a ball and roll out onto a surface dusted with icing sugar to an 18cm circle. Spoon half the cake mixture into the tin and spread in an even layer. Lay the paste over the cake mixture, pressing it down gently. Spoon the remaining cake mixture on top and spread with the back of a spoon.
  4. Bake for about 2 and a quarter to 2 and a half hours or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin.
  5. Transfer the cooled cake to a baking sheet and brush the top with the ginger syrup. Roll out the remaining marzipan as above and press down onto the top of the cake. Pinch decoratively around the edges. Arrange the marzipan balls on top, sticking them with a little extra syrup from the jar. Heat the surface of the cake under a moderate grill for 1-2 minutes, watching closely, until the marzipan starts to toast. If one area turns too dark, cover it with foil.
  6. Transfer to a plate or cake board and dust lightly with extra caster sugar. Or to wrap, cut a large circle of clear Cellophane. Position the cake plate over the centre and bring the sides of the Cellophane up over the cake. Squeeze the edges together and secure with ribbon. Alternatively, put the cake, on its board or plate, in a small cake box (available from cake decorating shops), or in a gift box.

Watch our video on how to line a cake tin.

Comments and images

Average user rating 3 stars out of 5

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ROZELLA

ROZELLA 08 April 2010 22:16

Just finished this lovely moist cake. I decorated mine with waitrose mini eggs and a light sprinkling of nutmeg for colour.

fronny

fronny 05 April 2010 21:59

Made the cake and it was lovely with a nice hint of ginger. The marzipan layer also stayed quite distinct, unlike some other recipes. I learned the hard way to let it cool thoroughly in the tin, otherwise you will get leaks of hot marzipan!

shellywazz

shellywazz 17 April 2009 19:52

Made this yummy cake three times over Easter, made smaller ones as gifts. Found that the topping looked better dusted with caster sugar then glazed with a blow torch rather than grilling it ! Fab, now a family favourite and so easy to make :)

Ashley

Ashley 10 April 2009 12:41

It would appear that the ingredients list has been corrected. Its the same cake that is currently featured on WaitroseLIVE ( http://www.waitrose.com/waitroselive/ ) where there is a video of it being made. I've cooked it - and eaten it and think its delicious !

JohnCU1

JohnCU1 05 April 2009 11:59

I attempted to collect all the ingredients together for this cake, and found the amount of butter required was missing. Also I think the amount of sugar required is written down as " 500g white marzipan icing sugar".I will not be attempting to make this cake in case the other ingredients amounts are incorrect . This is a pity because the receipt looks good !

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3 stars out of 5

Average user rating Based on 81 ratings

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Nutritional Info

Typical values per serving:
Energy 456.0kcal
Sugars 66.6g
Fat 14.6g
Saturated Fat 6.7g
Salt 0.1g

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This recipe was first published on Waitrose.com in March 2009