What does a Simnel cake represent?

Simnel cake has been eaten since medieval times as both a rich, sweet treat and a symbolic ritual. The fruit cake is topped with eleven marzipan balls to represent the eleven apostles of Christ, minus Judas. Simnel cake is a light fruitcake that is an Easter classic and is often associated with Mother’s Day.

Why is Simnel cake called Simnel?

The name simnel probably comes from the ancient Roman word simila, meaning fine flour. Around the 17th century, fancy simnel cakes came to be associated with springtime – they turn up in Mothering Sunday celebrations, Easter or the ‘day off’ from the religious fast of Lent known as Refreshment Sunday.

What does Simnel mean?

1 : a bun or bread of fine wheat flour. 2 British : a rich fruitcake sometimes coated with almond paste and baked for mid-Lent, Easter, and Christmas.

How long does Simnel cake last?

1 month

Where did Simnel cake originated?

When should Simnel cake be eaten?

A Simnel cake is a type of fruit cake that contains plenty of marzipan and is eaten at Easter, although it used to be specifically associated with Mothering Sunday. When folk were fasting during Lent, Mothering Sunday, appearing in the middle of the fast, offered a respite from 40 days of religious austerity.

Can you make Simnel cake in advance?

It is a light fruit cake so it does not need to be made in advance and does not benefit from “maturing” in the way that a rich fruit cake does . The cake can be made up to a week ahaed but add the marzipan topping the day before serving. Once decorated, keep the cake in an airtight box in a cool place for 5 days.

Can I freeze Simnel cake?

Nigella’s Simnel Cake (from FEAST and on the Nigella website here) is a traditional light fruit cake recipe. The cake can also be frozen, without the topping, for up to 3 months, though there is a small risk that the marzipan in the centre becomes slightly soft and sticky when it is defrosted.