Happy Easter - Traditional English Easter Cake

Happy Easter!

Ah well the Easter eggs are all finished now, but if you want to cook a traditional English Eastertime cake, this will go down well at any time of year. 0It's topped with marzipan - I'd say buy some rather than make it unless you have all the time in the world.

Ingredients

• 175g/6oz butter or margarine
• 175g/6oz soft brown sugar
• 3 free-range eggs, beaten
• 175g/6oz plain flour
• pinch salt
• ½ tsp ground mixed spice (optional)
• 350g/12oz mixed raisins, currants and sultanas
• 55g/2oz chopped mixed peel
• ½ lemon, grated zest only
• 1-2 tbsp apricot jam
• 1 free-range egg, beaten for glazing

Method

1.  Preheat oven to 140C/275F/Gas 1. Grease and line a 18cm/7in cake tin.

2. Cream the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs until well incorporated and then sift in the flour, salt and mixed spice (if using) a little at a time. Finally, add the mixed dried fruit, peel and grated lemon zest and stir into the mixture.

3. Put half the mixture into a greased and lined 18cm/7in cake tin. Smooth the top and cover with the circle of rolled out marzipan. Add the rest of the cake mixture and smooth the top leaving a slight dip in the centre to allow for the cake to rise. Bake in the preheated oven for 1¾ hours. Test by inserting a skewer in the middle - if it comes out clean, it is ready. Once baked, remove from the oven and set aside to cool on a wire rack.

4. Brush the top of the cooled cake with the apricot jam. Divide the remainder of the almond paste in half; roll out a circle to cover the top of the cake with one half and form 11 small balls with the other half.

5. Place the circle of paste on the jam glaze and set the balls round the edge. Brush the cake topping with a little beaten egg.

6. Preheat the grill to high. Place the cake onto a baking tray and grill for 1-2 minutes, or until the top of the marzipan begins to brown.

ENJOY!