Simnel Cake

==Description==
===Ingredients===
Almond Paste:
*4 ounces (125 grams) Sugar 
*4 ounces (125 grams) Almonds, ground 
*1 egg, beaten 
*81/2 teaspoon almond extract
Cake:
*4 ounces (125 grams) Butter, softened 
*4 ounces (125 grams) soft Brown Sugar
*3 eggs, beaten 
*5 ounces (150 grams) All-Purpose Flour
*1/4 teaspoon salt 
*1/2 teaspoon Mixed Spice 
*12 ounces (350 grams) mixed dried fruit
*82 ounces (50 grams) mixed citrus peel 
*Grated zest of 1/2 Lemon,
*1 teaspoon apricot Jam warmed
*Beaten egg for glazing
===Directions===
#Almond Paste: Mix together Sugar and ground almonds, and add enough beaten egg to give a soft consistency. 
#Add almond extract and knead for one minute or until the paste is smooth and pliable. Set aside, covered.
#Preheat oven to 140°C (275°F)
#Cake: cream together butter and Sugar. 
#Beat in eggs, a bit at a time. 
#Sift flour, salt and spice, and add to mixture alternately with dried fruit, mixed peel and zest of lemon. 
#Mix well together. 
#Place half the mixture into a well lined 7 inxh (18 cm) tin and smooth top with a wooden spoon. 
#Roll out 1/2 the almond paste into a circle and place on top of the cake mixture. 
#Pour in remainder of cake batter and smooth top, hollowing the top slightly.
#Bake in a preheated oven 140°C (275°F), for one and a half to two hours. 
#Remove and set on rack to cool. 
#When cake is quite cold, brush top with slightly warmed Apricot Jam.
#Roll out remainder of almond paste to fit top of cake. 
#Lay it on top of the apricot jam. 
#With the scraps of paste, form eleven small egg shapes, and place eggs around the edge. 
#Brush entire top including eggs with a little beaten egg. 
#Return cake to the oven for about 10 minutes at 180°C (350°F) for almond paste to brown.
==See also==
Category:Australian Desserts
Category:Desserts
Category:Recipes
Category:Australian Recipes
Category:Lemon Recipes
Category:Apricot jam Recipes
Category:Flour Recipes
Category:Almond extract Recipes
Category:Almond meal Recipes
Category:Brown sugar Recipes
Category:Apricot jam Recipes
Category:Mixed spice Recipes
Category:Apricot Recipes
Category:Butter Recipes
Category:Almond Recipes
Category:Sugar Recipes
Category:Granulated sugar Recipes
Category:Cream Recipes
Category:Lemon Recipes
Category:Salt Recipes
Category:Egg Recipes
Category:Ethnic and Regional Cookies
Category:Apricot Desserts
Category:Recipes that need photos