Description
A traditional British Simnel Cake, perfect for festive occasions, featuring a rich blend of dried fruits and warm spices with a distinctive layer of sweet marzipan. This moist and flavorful fruitcake is enhanced with lemon and orange zest, providing a delicious citrus aroma, baked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Zest of 1 orange
Additional Ingredients
- 2 cups mixed dried fruits (raisins, currants, sultanas)
- 4 oz marzipan, rolled out
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line an 8-inch round cake pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure an easy release of the cake.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This process should take about 5 minutes and helps to incorporate air for a lighter texture in the cake.
- Add Eggs and Zests: Beat in the eggs one at a time to the creamed mixture, ensuring each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next. Along with the eggs, add the lemon and orange zest as well as the ground cinnamon and nutmeg for a fragrant, spicy flavor.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients and Fruits: Gradually fold in the all-purpose flour combined with baking powder, mixing carefully to avoid overworking the batter. Then fold in the mixed dried fruits, distributing them evenly throughout the batter.
- Assemble Cake with Marzipan Layer: Pour half of the batter into the prepared cake pan to form the base layer. Roll the marzipan out flat and gently place it over the batter. Then pour the remaining batter over the marzipan, covering it completely.
- Bake the Cake: Bake the assembled cake in the preheated oven for about 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Once done, remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool completely before decorating or serving.
Notes
- Ensure the eggs are at room temperature for better mixing and batter consistency.
- Marzipan can be toasted lightly after baking, if desired, for additional flavor and texture.
- The cake can be stored in an airtight container for up to one week or frozen for longer storage.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend and confirm baking powder is gluten-free.
- Feel free to soak the dried fruits in some brandy or orange juice overnight for a moister and richer flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
