Easter Simnel Cake

This rich fruit cake, with marzipan filling and decoration is traditionally eaten at Easter or during lent. The golden marzipan balls on the top signify Christ's 11 loyal apostles.The name of this cake comes from the Roman Siminellus, which was a bread eaten during spring fertility festivals, but more commonly it is believed that this cake was made on mothering Sunday by servants girls to take home to their mothers. Either way this is a beautiful moist cake that was devoured by all in this house. Now feel free to use your own faithful fruit cake recipe, add the marzipan and bake as normal or if your want a larger cake then use Delia's Rich Fruit Cake and increase the marzipan to 1kg, this will serve 12-14 people.

Festive Stollen

This is a very detailed recipe, not because it is difficult but because it needs care and attention. Stollen is a German bread baked at Christmas time. It has a  rich buttery crust and the marzipan in the centre is a real surprise. I suggest that you time the rising to coincide with school runs or a large basket of ironing! Two jobs at once.