What is Simnel cake? Simnel cake is a cake that is traditionally consumed on Easter Sunday, it is a light fruit cake with a toasted marzipan topping. The Lancashire version is a particularly fine version – recipes I have found don’t contain saffron, you can leave it out if you wish but I felt it added a nice flavouring and colour to the cake. It is a festival cake once used for mothering Sunday – see a history of the cake here
http://www.timetravel-britain.com/articles/taste/easter.shtml
I hope you have a happy holiday this weekend – despite the cold weather!
Ingredients
240g of self-raising wheat free/gluten-free flour
1 flat tsp of cinnamon*
1/4 of grated nutmeg
1/4 tsp of ground cloves*
1 teaspoon of gluten-free dairy free** cocoa powder
50g of pecan nuts
50g of sultanas
4 eggs
200g of milk free margarine
Large pinch of saffron
200g of golden caster sugar
Method
Pour approximately 1 tablespoon of boiling water on to the saffron and set aside to cool.
Weigh all other ingredients into a mixing bowl, add saffron and liquid mix, mix well.
Place in a paper lined seven-inch baking tin and bake till a cake skewer comes out clean when inserted into the centre of the cake.
Trim the top of the cake flat and turn upside down to give an even working surface. Cover with rolled out marzipan* (or ready roll icing sugar* if you are following a low FODMAP diet – you can colour it pale yellow to simulate marzipan if you wish!) Roll 11 equal balls of marzipan or icing sugar to represent the disciples (minus Judas) and if you are using marzipan place the cake under a grill to brown the marzipan.
Enjoy a small piece with a nice cup of tea!
**Milk free see http://lucysfriendlyfoods.wordpress.com/2012/07/05/dairy-and-nut-free-cocoa-powder-found-at-last/ , lactose free, wheat free, gluten-free, Low FODMAP (without marzipan.) *Ensure these ingredients are not contaminated with wheat or gluten.
Clinical Alimentary 
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