Easy Easter simnel cake recipe

Name: Easy Easter simnel cake recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 16 serving(s)
Ingredients: 175 g butter, softened, plus extra to grease; 150 g soft light brown muscovado sugar; 3 large eggs; 175 g plain flour; 1 tsp. baking powder; 1 tsp. mixed spice; 75 g currants; 75 g glace cherries, roughly chopped; 75 g raisins; 75 g sultanas; 50 g mixed peel; Finely grated zest of 1 lemon; 150 g golden marzipan, cubed

This simple traybake takes just 15 minutes to prep

By Ailsa BurtUpdated: 08 April 2025

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For an easier take on the classic simnel cake, give this simple traybake recipe a try. Packed full of traditional flavours, like marzipan and juicy, plump dried fruit, this traybake version only takes 15 minutes to prep, making it the ideal Easter teatime treat. It really couldn’t be simpler.

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Yields:

16 serving(s)

Prep Time:

15 mins

Cook Time:

45 mins

Total Time:

1 hr

Cal/Serv:

273

Ingredients

175 g butter, softened, plus extra to grease
150 g soft light brown muscovado sugar
3 large eggs
175 g plain flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. mixed spice
75 g currants
75 g glace cherries, roughly chopped
75 g raisins
75 g sultanas
50 g mixed peel
Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
150 g golden marzipan, cubed

Directions

1. Step 1Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan) mark 4. Grease and line a 20cm x 20cm tin.
2. Step 2In a large mixing bowl beat together the butter and sugar, until very pale and fluffy, around 5mins. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Gently fold in the flour, baking powder and mixed spice. Fold in the remaining ingredients, except the marzipan.
3. Step 3Spoon half of the cake mixture into the prepared tin. Sprinkle half of the marzipan over the top, followed by the remaining cake mixture. Spread evenly then dot over the last pieces of marzipan on top.
4. Step 4Bake in oven for 40-45min until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin for 5min then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Cut into 16 pieces to serve.

Simnel cake is enjoyed at Easter time and is traditionally a spiced fruit cake that is topped with a sheet of marzipan and eleven balls of marzipan to represent the eleven apostles of Christ (minus Judas). It is then often grilled or blowtorched to slightly brown the top slightly. Whilst a traditional Simnel cake is absolutely delicious, it is a little more labour intensive.

For more Easter baking inspiration, check out our best chocolate cake recipes for Easter.

If you love simnel cake, why not try our simnel loaf cake recipe.