Simnel cake

The cake is decorated with 11 marzipan balls to symbolise the 11 faithful apostles and sometimes has a larger ball in the middle to represent Christ.

Makes 1 large cake

(12 servings)

Preparation time: 15-20 min

Baking time: 2 hours

• 625 ml (2½ c) cake flour

• 12 ml (2½ t) baking powder

• 10 ml (2 t) ground cinnamon

• 2 ml (½ t) nutmeg

• 270 g unsalted butter

• 250 ml (1 c) caster sugar

• 5 extra-large eggs

• grated rind of 1 orange

• juice of 2 oranges

• 300 ml ground almonds

• 250 ml (1 c) each currants,

• sultanas and glacé

• cherries

• 80 ml (1⁄3 c) mixed citrus peel

• 560 g marzipan

• smooth apricot jam

• extra cinnamon for dusting

Preheat the oven to 170 °C.

Lightly grease a 23 cm springform cake tin with margarine and line the inside with 5 layers of baking paper that protrude 2,5 cm above the tin.

1 Sift together the flour, baking powder and spices.

2 Cream the butter with the caster sugar until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs one by

one, beating well after each addition.

3 Use your hands to mix the sifted flour mixture, orange rind and juice, almonds, dried fruit and citrus peel into the creamed mixture.

4 Turn half the batter into the tin and spread it evenly.

5 Roll a third of the marzipan into a 22 cm disc and put it on top of the batter in the

tin.

6 Spoon the remaining batter on top and spread evenly. Bake the cake for 2 hours or until a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.

7 Leave to cool in the tin, then remove and transfer it to a cake platter. Brush the

top of the cake with apricot jam. Roll out a 22 cm disc and 11 small balls from the

remaining marzipan.

8 Cover the cake with the marzipan disc and place the 11 balls in a circle on top,

securing them with apricot jam. Dust the cake with cinnamon.

TIPS

• The cake keeps well for about 10 days in an airtight container.

• Use milk instead of the orange juice and rind.

Healthy bunnies

Try a healthier alternative. The kids can choose their favourite fruit and put it together themselves to make this cute Easter bunny.

Almond chicks

These almond chicks are really cute and simple to make. Buy the almonds already covered in a layer of blue candy coating then use icing sugar to draw the faces. If you can’t find the almonds, use any small blue sweets (such as Smarties).

Strawberry eggs

Melt white chocolate and add food colouring. Dip the strawberries in it and wait until they cool completely. Get the kids to decorate the “eggs”.

Cookie carrots

Bake your favourite cookies in the shape of carrots. Kids can then decorate the cookies with orange and green icing sugar. Or just use marshmallows and dip them in white chocolate you’ve coloured with food colouring. The “soil” in the packets is made of finely ground Oreo cookies.

Nests

You don’t even need to turn on the oven for these sweet treats. Simply use chocolate fingers or pretzels to form the nest. Hold the “frame” upright while your kids complete the nest with small chocolate eggs. Round off with colourful ribbon.

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