Simnel Cake

The Simnel cake is an Easter tradition most associated with Britain but which deserves to be known wider afield. The cake was originally baked as a Mothering Sunday gift but today is more usually restricted to Easter.

What Is Simnel Cake?

A Simnel cake is a fruit cake with a layer of marzipan on top. The name is thought to come through Old French from the Latin simila which referred to a fine flour.

The Simnel cake dates back many hundreds of years. It's mentioned in a verse from the 17th century:

I'll to thee a Simnell bring
'Gainst thou go'st a mothering,
So that, when she blesseth thee,
Half that blessing thou'lt give to me

There is no single recipe for Simnel cake and each region of England had its own version which - of course - it considered to be the finest. The Lancashire recipe had a reputation for being especially rich.

Making a Simnel cake was a difficult task in medieval times. Today of course we can just pop down to the store and buy one.

Symbolism

The Simnel cake is often decorated according to Christian tradition, although it can be enjoyed by those of any or no religion.

Marzipan balls are placed on top of of the cake to represent Christ's disciples - Judas is left out. Sometimes an extra marzipan ball or other flourish is added on the middle of the cake to represent Christ himself.

Today, of course, you're just as likely to buy a Simnel cake with chicks or rabbits on top!