Simnel Cake

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recipe by Kenwood https://kenwoodworld.com/

  • Time icon
    Total Time
    2hrs 5mins
  • Serves icon
    Serves
    10
  • Calories icon
    Calories
    669
based on 1 ratings

Traditionally, this cake is served at Easter, and the marzipan spheres are said to represent the Apostles. There are only eleven as Judas is best forgotten at this time of year.

recipe updated Mar 17, 2025

Ingredients

  • Candied citrus peel icon
    Candied citrus peel
    55 g
  • Lemon icon
    Lemon
    2
  • Unsalted butter icon
    Unsalted butter
    225 g
  • Egg icon
    Egg
    4
  • Brandy icon
    Brandy
    60 ml
  • Currants icon
    Currants
    225 g
  • Sultanas icon
    Sultanas
    115 g
  • Glace cherries icon
    Glace cherries
    100 g
  • Marzipan icon
    Marzipan
    500 g
  • Icing sugar icon
    Icing sugar
    20 g
  • Caster sugar icon
    Caster sugar
    225 g
  • All purpose flour icon
    All purpose flour
    225 g
  • Baking powder icon
    Baking powder
    2 ½ teaspoons
  • Ground almonds icon
    Ground almonds
    25 g
  • Allspice icon
    Allspice
    ½ teaspoon
  • Ground cinnamon icon
    Ground cinnamon
    ½ teaspoon
  • Ground nutmeg icon
    Ground nutmeg
    ½ teaspoon
  • Apricot jam icon
    Apricot jam
    30 g

Tools

  • kCook icon Oven
  • kCook icon Cooling rack
  • kCook icon Stove
  • kCook icon Rolling pin
  • kCook icon Kenwood Chef
  • kCook icon Round pan - 20cm (8")
  • kCook icon Large saucepan
  • kCook icon Work surface
  • kCook icon Kenwood bowl - kenwood chef
  • kCook icon Serving plate
  • kCook icon Saucepan - small

Step preview

  1. Add brandy, currants, sultanas, glace cherries, candied citrus peel and lemon to a clean large saucepan
  2. Simmer until reduced - medium-low heat
  3. Set aside and let cool
  4. Place marzipan on a clean work surface
  5. Dust with icing sugar lightly
  6. Knead until pliable
  7. Break off 100 g of the marzipan
  8. Roll into a circle
  9. Cut into a circle
  10. Repeat the same with another 100 g of the marzipan
  11. Retrieve the remaining marzipan
  12. Roll into a log
  13. Cut into pieces
  14. Roll into balls then set aside
  15. Pre-heat oven - 160°C
  16. Attach K Beater
  17. Add unsalted butter and caster sugar to the Kenwood Bowl
  18. Mix with splashguard fitted until combined then scrape bowl - 1 min, Speed Max
  19. Mix with splashguard fitted until pale and light - 1 min, Speed Max
  20. Add egg to the Kenwood Bowl gradually while machine is running
  21. Mix with splashguard fitted then scrape bowl - 1 min, Speed 4
  22. Mix with splashguard fitted until combined - 1 min, Speed 4
  23. Then add all purpose flour, baking powder, ground almonds, allspice, ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg to the Kenwood Bowl
  24. Mix with splashguard fitted until combined - 20 sec, Speed 1
  25. Mix with splashguard fitted until combined then scrape bowl - 20 sec, Speed Max
  26. Transfer content of large saucepan to Kenwood Bowl
  27. Mix with splashguard fitted until combined - 20 sec, Speed Max
  28. Transfer half of mixture to round pan
  29. Lay one marzipan circle onto the cake mixture and gently press down
  30. Transfer the rest of mixture to round pan
  31. Bake until skewer tests clean - 1 hr 30 min, 160°C
  32. Remove from oven and let cool - 10 min
  33. Turn out onto cooling rack until completely cool - 5 min
  34. Transfer cake to serving plate then set aside
  35. Add apricot jam to a clean saucepan
  36. Heat until runny - medium-low heat
  37. Strain through a sieve
  38. Add jam to cake
  39. Place the remaining marzipan circle on top and press down firmly
  40. Decorate the top with marzipan balls
  41. Grill until caramelized
  42. Serve
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