Traditional Simnel Cake

Here’s our recipe for a traditional Simnel Cake. Traditionally girls in service would bake a Simnel Cake to take home to their mothers on Mother’s Day to have in time for Easter. We thought this was so lovely that we are going to show you how to bake this most traditional of cakes in your fire pit:

Ingredients

• 115g soft margarine

• 115g soft brown sugar

• 115g self-raising flour

• 1tspn mixed spice

• 2 eggs

• 175g mixed fruit and peel

• 25g dried cranberries

• Zest of an orange or a lemon

• 200g marzipan

• 11 whole almonds

• Honey to glaze

Let’s Cook

Line a 15cm deep cake tin with baking parchment

In a large bowl whisk together the fat and sugar until light and fluffy; gradually add the egg and a d add mall amount of flour. Continue to add the remaining egg and flour, finally fold in the fruit and orange zest.

Roll out the marzipan to a circle to fit snugly inside the cake tin.

Put half the mixture into the tin and place the marzipan disk on top. Spoon the remaining cake mixture on top and level it with the back of a spoon.

Place the 11 almonds in a circular design around the edge of the cake (they represent the 11 apostles excluding Judas).

Put the cake tin inside the Dutch oven on a low cake rack to keep it away from the base. Put the lid on.

Rake the charcoal from the middle of the fire pit to the outsides and place the Dutch oven in the centre of the fire pit.

Cook for 50-60 minutes depending on the heat of your fire pit and the weather conditions. Remember if it’s too hot remove the Dutch oven from the fire. You will need to add more charcoal during the cooking process, sprinkle this around the outside.

When the cake is ready it should be firm to the touch. Remove from the Dutch oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes before brushing the top with some warm honey to glaze.

Remove from the tray, discard the baking parchment and finish cooling on a wire rack. Needs to be eaten within a couple of days or frozen. Enjoy!