Simnel cake

I make an almond cake which has a layer of marzipan, if that would serve your purpose. The top is plain, but could be decorated I guess. It is delicious, best made a day or two in advance and keeps really well, a couple of weeks if it doesn't get eaten up!

Sticky Almond Cake

225g/8oz butter
225g/8oz caster sugar
50g/2oz plain flour
175g/6oz ground almonds
1/2 tsp almond essence
350g/12oz white marzipan
4 eggs
icing sugar for dusting

1.Grease and base-line a 8½ - 9” spring-release cake tin
2.Cream butter and sugar until very pale
3.Gradually beat in eggs, adding a little flour if mixture curdles
4.Stir in remaining flour
5.Gently fold in ground almonds and essence
6.Roll out marzipan slightly larger than cake tin and using tin as template cut marzipan into a circle
7.Place half the cake mixture in the cake tin, top with the marzipan, then finish with the cake mixture
8.Bake at 180°C, 350°F, gas 4, for about 1¼ hours or until firm to the touch, covering lightly with foil if necessary
9.Cool for 5 mins in tin then remove from the tin and cool on a rack
10.Wrap in foil and store for at least 1 day before serving.
11.Dust with icing sugar

I don't worry about it being white marzipan, just use whatever has highest almond content. It is delicious, a favourite 'special' cake.

Oh! That sounds so gorgeous!

Definitely making that for Easter.

Sounds delicious would corn flour be OK do you think? It is only a couple of ozs.

whitewave, I don't think you can substitute cornflour as I imagine the result would be heavy and flat. Flour gives the structure. Were you thinking of a gluten-free option?

I make all my cakes with Rye Four and often use a mix of ground almonds and Rye flour, works really well. I use a light Rye such as Doves farm rather than dark breadmaking Rye flour.

Really like the receipe above, will definitely try it out.

Thank you gardenermum. Sounds delicious, will definitely make it.

Made the cake gardenermum it is delicious. My son was really pleased and surprised. Thank you.

I made my first Simnel cake on Sunday. It was delicious but the middle layer had melted and was not visible. Is this usual? It maybe I need another try?

That's how it supposed to be pensionpat. When you think that almond paste is largely sugar, it's bound to melt in the baking. You still get a soft, sweet, almondy layer in the middle of the cake.

But don't let me stop you baking another one! grin]

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Glad to hear the cake went down well, GrandmaEvie.

Thank you for the recipe, gardenermum. I made it for our family Easter buffet yesterday and it went down a storm. So well, in fact, that they took all the leftovers home, so I only had one slice myself I decorated it with the traditional 12 balls of almond paste, in pastel colours, so it was pretty as well as delicious.

Thanks Jings. I had to give most of it away. It was far too scrummy!