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Simnel cake originated years ago in connection with mothering Sunday. In England mothering Sunday was a day in March when girls in domestic service were given a day off to visit their mothers and take them a cake and flowers. In country churches in England even today children are often given a posy in church to take home.

Ingredients

Batter

• 3/4 lb. of butter

• 1 lb. of sugar

• 6 eggs

• 2 1/2 cups of sifted flour

• 12 ounces of currants

• 1/2 a cup of mixed peel, put through meat grinder

Almond paste filling

• 6 oz almond paste

• 3/4 cup granulated sugar

• 2 eggs

• 6 tablespoons flour to stiffen

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees .

2. Cream together butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add flour, currants, and mixed peel. Mix well.

3. Mix all almond paste filling ingredients thoroughly. Put 1 teaspoon cake batter in lined cupcake tin. Add half teaspoon of paste. Top with cake batter. Bake for 30 minutes.

Recipe taken from the "Goodies from Great Britain and Other Places" Cookbook
by DBE Pennsylvania's Athelstan Chapter