The Simnel cake goes back to late medieval times, when it was thought to have been invented by Lambert Simnel during his time in Henry VII’s kitchens. It became a Mothering Sunday tradition, also known as the festival of Motherhood, when young girls who were in service would take one home to their mothers on their day off, often this was their first day off since going into service at the beginning of the year. The mothers would often keep the cake until Easter as the cakes were not supposed to be eaten during lent. Hence the Simnel cake is now associated with Easter.
Simnel cake is fruit cake, similar to a Christmas cake topped with marzipan. On this topping and around the edge of the cake, are eleven marzipan balls to represent the true apostles of Jesus; the 12th Judas being omitted. Really good simnel cakes have a layer of delicious sticky marzipan baked in the middle of the cake as well.
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