Simnel cake is a British sweet treat which is eaten during the Easter period. Dating back to medieval times, there are many regional variations but we have chosen to share this particular recipe with you as it caters for several dietary restrictions.
Ingredients
- 50g glace cherries
- 150g raisins
- 50g sultanas
- 2 tsp mixed spice
- 500g white egg-free marzipan
- 50g dairy-free sunflower margarine
- 50g dark muscovado sugar
- 3 tbsp marmalade
- 1 banana
- 100g gram (chickpea) flour
- 50g ground almonds
- 2 tsp gluten-free baking powder
- 100ml apple juice
- 1 tbsp apricot jam
- Icing sugar, for dusting
Method
- Turn the oven to 140C/275F/gas mark 1. Line a 18cm-diameter tin with baking parchment.
- Rinse the glace cherries and chop them up, then place in a small bowl with the raisins, sultanas and mixed spice. Stir to coat all the fruit in the spice. Roll out the marzipan to a 2–3mm thick sheet (use a little icing sugar for dusting). Place your baking tin on the marzipan and use it as a template to cut two circles.
- In a mixing bowl, cream together the margarine, sugar and marmalade. Gradually mash in the banana and stir in the gram flour, ground almonds and baking powder. Add the spiced fruit mix and apple juice, then stir until everything is well combined.
- Scoop half of the mixture into the tin, followed by one of the marzipan circles. Spread the rest of the mixture on top, flattening it out with a spatula.
- Cook for 1 hour and 40 minutes until the cake is browned (an inserted skewer should come out clean). Cool in the tin. Brush with the jam and top with the second marzipan circle. Decorate with extra marzipan as desired. Simnel cake was traditionally decorated with 11 marzipan balls to represent the disciples (minus Judas), however you may wish to create marzipan chicks, rabbits or flowers to adorn it with instead!