Video: Baking Easter cakes is nice and Simnel!
Cake expert Sherry Hostler, who runs The Cake House in Tring, gives a history of the Easter Simnel Cake and reveals her recipe and tips to bake up a treat.
We've all heard of Christmas Cake, but how many of us know about the traditional Easter Simnel Cake?
From Ash Wednesday, and for 40 days thereafter, there is a period of fasting and repentance commonly recognised as Lent. This period then comes to an end on Easter Sunday, at which time there is a feast of seasonal and symbolic foods to celebrate a time of renewal.
During the 17th Century female servants would bake a light fruit cake called Simnel Cake to bring home on a rare visit to their mothers on Mothering Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Lent. Some of you may already have heard that this day is not only known as Mother's Day, but also Simnel Sunday.
These cakes, if made properly, would keep for a few weeks, and would not be eaten until Easter Sunday, at which time the girl's family would be keen to see whether the cake was still moist as a test to the daughter's cooking skills.
However, with the demise of service after the First World War, the Simnel Cake began to be treated as an Easter cake in its own right.
The Simnel Cake is extremely symbolic of Easter, as well as being delicious.
It is traditionally circular in shape and decorated with 11 marzipan balls placed on top to signify the 11 disciples of Jesus.
There were originally 12 apostles, however Judas Iscariot is not included due to his betrayal of Christ.
Some Simnel Cakes will also have a larger marzipan ball in the centre of the cake, which is to portray Jesus. There were often fresh flowers also placed on the cake, whereas today sugar flowers are more likely.
It is believed that the word Simnel comes from the Latin word Simila, which means fine wheaten flour, from which the cake was traditionally made.
Another suggestion is in a myth, which suggests that the name is derived from Lambert Simnel, who laid false claim to the throne of England during the rule of King Henry VII.
Poor Lambert was only ten years old at this time, and the King realised that he was being set up. Lambert was pardoned and set to work in the Royal kitchens as a spit turner. This was allegedly when he came up with the recipe for Simnel Cake.
The cake may also be known as Shrewsbury Simnel as bakers in this area were said to make the very best Simnel Cakes.
Simnel Cake is similar to Christmas cake, but traditionally uses marzipan instead of icing. The middle of the cake may also have a layer of marzipan through it.
There are a variety of recipes for Simnel Cake, and most of today's modern ones would be far less fiddly and time consuming than they were for the servant girls of old.
To celebrate Easter Ms Hostler is giving away a Simnel Cake to one lucky reader. For your chance to win pick up a copy of this week's Gazette (edition March 17). The deadline for entries is midnight on Sunday, March 28.
PIECE OF CAKE: Sherry Hostler with a freshly baked Simnel Cake.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Tring
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
