SIMNEL CAKE
"Originally, this cake was made for Mothering Sunday, but it has for a long, long time been an essential Easter confection, the marzipan balls on top representing the apostles: eleven in total as, for understandable reasons, Judas is persona non grata. I make this a very light fruit cake, totally different in taste and texture from the damp, dark offerings of Christmas...."
INGREDIENTS
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1/2 C candied cherries
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3 1/2 C mixed dried fruit
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1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
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1 C superfine sugar
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Zest of 1 lemon
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1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
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1 teaspoon baking powder
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½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
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¼ teaspoon ground ginger
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¼ cup almond meal
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3 large eggs
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2 tablespoons milk
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2 ½ lb yellow marzipan to decorate
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confectioners' sugar for rolling
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1 tablespoon apricot jam (melted)
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1 egg white (optional)
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