All in One Simnel Cake with Crystallised Primroses Serves 16 Marzipan 675 g (1lb 8 oz) ground almonds 340 g (12 oz) icing sugar, sifted 3 tablespoons Irish Whiskey 3 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 egg whites Cake 225 g (8 oz) unsalted butter, softened 225 g (8 oz) self raising flour 2 teaspoons ground mixed spice ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 110 g (4 oz) raisins 110 g (4 oz) currants 110 g (4 oz) sultanas 85 g (3 oz) grated apple, skin left on 85 g (3 oz ) dark brown soft sugar 85 g (3 oz) light brown soft sugar 55 g (2 oz) golden syrup 4 eggs 110 g (4 oz) ground almonds Zest and juice of 1 lemon Zest and juice of 1 orange 3 tablespoons apricot jam 1. Preheat the oven to 140C (325F/Gas 3). Grease a 23 cm (9 inch) loose-bottomed or spring form cake tin and line with baking parchment. 2. To make the marzipan, put all of the ingredients into a freestanding mixer and gently mix the with the paddle attachment until the marzipan comes together. Turn out on to a board, lightly dusted with icing sugar and lightly knead together. 3. Wrap two-thirds of the marzipan and set it aside. Roll out the remaining third into a flat disc, using the prepared cake tin as a stencil. Cover and set aside. 4. For the cake, place all the ingredients except the apricot jam into the clean bowl of a freestanding mixer and beat with the flat paddle attachment for 1-2 minutes until combined. 5. Spoon half of the mixture into the prepared tin. Smooth it out, then lay the marzipan disc on top. Cover with the remaining cake mixture and smooth out the top. Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 1hr 20 minutes. 6. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 30 minutes in the tin before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. 7. Warm the apricot jam in a small saucepan, then brush it over the top of the cooled cake. 8. Roll out half of the remaining marzipan and use it to cover the top of the cake, then crimp the edges. Roll the remaining marzipan into 11 balls and fix them to the top of the cake with a little of the apricot glaze. 9. Using a cook’s blowtorch, brown the tops of the marzipan balls, then decorate the cake with the crystallised primroses. #c#cheriedenhamcookst#theirishbakeryi#irishrecipesn#nostalgicbakesi#irishcookbookn#nostalgicbakingt#traditionalbakings#seasonaljoysa#acookslifee#eattheseasoni#irishcountryliving#c#countrycottagevibest#traditionalrecipebooki#irishbakingi#irishbakes#childhoodbakingn#northernirishrecipesl#loveirelandt#theirishbakeryt#tourismnie#embraceagiantspiritd#discoverirelandd#discovernis#spreadtheirishbakeryloves#simnelcakerecipec#cookerylessonbooktokireland