Simnel cake

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 150°C and line an 18 cm round tin with baking paper.
2. Cream the butter and sugar until pale, then beat in the eggs one at a time.
3. Add the sifted flour, baking powder, spices, vanilla and zests, and fold in gently.
4. Stir in the dried fruit and candied peel, then spoon half the batter into the tin.
5. Roll out half the marzipan into an 18 cm disc, place it on the batter, then add the rest of the cake batter.
6. Bake for 1 hour 30 to 1 hour 40, until a skewer comes out clean, then let it cool.
7. Brush the top with apricot jam, cover with the remaining marzipan, shape eleven small balls and arrange them in a ring, then pass the cake under the grill for a few minutes to brown.