Simnel Cake

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Cakes cupcakes Medium

A light, spiced fruit cake with a ribbon of marzipan baked through the center and a toasted marzipan crown with eleven balls. This is the classic Easter version. Makes 1 8-inch cake in about 3 hr 30 min.

Prep 60 min

Cook 150 min

Total 3 hr 30 min

Yield 1 8-inch cake

Ingredients

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8-inch cake

¾ cup (175 g)unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup (175 g)light brown sugar
3 (150 g)eggs
1 ¾ cups (225 g)all-purpose flour
¾ tsp (3 g)baking powder
1 tbsp (8 g)mixed spice or pumpkin pie spice
¾ tsp (2 g)ground cinnamon
1 pinch (1 g)salt
3 tbsp (45 ml)milk
3 ¼ cups (450 g)mixed dried fruit, raisins, currants, sultanas
7 tbsp (50 g)candied citrus peel, chopped
2 ½ tsp (5 g)orange zest
1 ½ tsp (3 g)lemon zest
1 ½ lb (700 g)almond paste or marzipan
3 tbsp (60 g)apricot jam, warmed and sieved
1 (50 g)egg, beaten, for brushing

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Instructions

Heat the oven to 300 F (150 C). Grease and line the base and sides of an 8-inch (20 cm) round deep cake pan with parchment, and wrap the outside with a double layer of brown paper or foil.
Take 250 g of marzipan and roll it into an 7.5-inch (19 cm) round. Shape another 250 g into a round the same size for the top and set aside covered. Roll the remaining 200 g into 11 equal balls (about 18 g each) for the decoration.
Beat the butter and sugar 3 to 4 minutes until pale and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, adding a spoonful of the flour if it curdles.
Sift in the flour, baking powder, spices and salt. Fold in with the milk, then fold in the dried fruit, peel and zests.
Spoon half the batter into the pan and level it. Lay the first marzipan round on top, then cover with the remaining batter and smooth the top, making a slight dip in the center.
Bake 2 to 2.5 hours, until deep golden and a skewer comes out clean from the cake part (205 F / 96 C). Cool 20 minutes in the pan, then turn out on a rack and cool completely.
Brush the top with warm apricot jam, press on the second marzipan round, and crimp the edge. Brush the balls with beaten egg and set them around the edge, brushing the top and tips with egg.
Toast under a hot grill (broiler) for 2 to 3 minutes, watching closely, until the marzipan is golden brown.

Tips

Wrap the outside of the pan so the fruit cake bakes evenly without drying.
Roll the middle marzipan layer slightly smaller than the pan so it does not touch the sides.
Make the cake a few days ahead; the flavor improves.
Bake to an internal temperature of 205 F (96 C) so the cake is fully set; the egg wash is cooked under the broiler.