Gluten Free and Vegan Easter Simnel Cake
About this recipe:
Here is a vegan and gluten free version of this traditional Easter celebration cake – Simnel cakes are a spicy fruit cake with a marzipan layer baked into the middle. The 11 marzipan balls that decorate the top are said to represent the true disciples. Alternatively, our Gluten Free Simnel Traybake is a more modern alternative for Easter baking.
Equipment:
20cm/8” round deep cake tin, pastry brush and mixing bowl
Ingredients:
400g marzipan
175g FREEE Self Raising White Flour
1 tsp FREEE Xanthan Gum
1 tsp mixed spice
1 apple
150g sugar
125ml oil
75ml water
300g mixed dried fruit
2 tsp apricot jam, warmed
oil, for tin
icing sugar, for decoration
Method:
170°C, Fan 150°C, 325°F, Gas 3
Cake
- Rub some oil around the inside of a 20cm/8” round deep cake tin or insert a baking liner.
- Pre-heat the oven.
- Take a quarter of the marzipan and divide it into 11 small pieces. Roll the small pieces into small balls.
- Dust the work surface with a little icing sugar, take half of the remaining marzipan and roll into a circle just larger than the cake tin. Place the tin on top of the marzipan circle and cut around the outside to make a perfect circle. Cover and set aside all the marzipan.
- Put the flour, xanthan gum and mixed spice into a bowl and stir to combine.
- Peel and grate the apple into a large mixing bowl, add the sugar, oil and water and beat well.
- Add the prepared flour to the bowl and beat well.
- Stir in the mixed dried fruit.
- Tip half the mixture into the prepared cake tin and smooth the top.
- Take the prepared marzipan circle and place it on the cake mixture.
- Put the remaining cake mixture onto the marzipan and smooth the surface.
- Bake for 1½-1¾ hours.
- Allow to cool in the tin for at least 30 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool.
Topping
- Warm the apricot jam and brush half over the top of the cold cake.
- Roll the remaining marzipan into a circle just larger than the cake tin. Place the tin on top and cut a zig zag pattern around the outside.
- Gently lift the marzipan on top of the apricot brushed cake.
- Brush the base of each prepared marzipan ball with jam and place them in a circle on the top of the cake.
- Place the cake under a hot grill for a few minutes to lightly brown the marzipan.
- Store the cold cake in a tin.
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Sarah Stephenson
This turned out so so well! Considering I usually mess up all baking , I am frilled at how easy this recipe was! I think I might make this cake my Easter tradition.
Reviewing: Gluten Free and Vegan Easter Simnel Cake
Crissy
I made this cake last Easter, it was a real hit with free from dieters and non-free from alike. I’ve already bought the ingredients to make it again this year. Well done to its creator.
Reviewing: Gluten Free and Vegan Easter Simnel Cake