Easy simnel traybake

• mixed dried fruit250g 250g
• dried apricot↗100g 100g

  chopped

• glacé cherry↗85g 85g

  chopped

• zest 2 oranges

  juice 1 orange (use the second in the topping)

• butter↗200g 200g

  softened, plus extra for the tin

• light muscovado sugar↗200g 200g
• large eggs↗4 4
• self-raising flour↗200g 200g
• ground almond↗50g 50g
• mixed spice2 tsp 2 tsp
• ground cinnamon↗1 tsp 1 tsp
• freshly grated nutmeg½ tsp ½ tsp
• marzipan500g 500g

  200g/7oz cut into 2cm chunks, the rest for the topping

• butter↗50g 50g
• light muscovado sugar↗50g 50g
• plain flour↗100g
• flaked almond↗100g
• golden syrup↗3 tbsp
• icing sugar↗85g

  sieved

• 2-3 tsp orange juice

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Soak all the dried fruit in the orange juice for 2 hrs, or overnight.

2. 2

   Butter and line a 20 x 30cm tin with baking parchment. Heat oven to 160C/ 140C fan/gas 3. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar with an electric whisk until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time; mix well between each addition.

3. 3

   Sift the flour into the bowl and mix in the ground almonds and spices. Add the marzipan chunks, zest and dried fruit with any remaining juice, and give everything a good stir to combine.

4. 4

   Tip the cake mix into the prepared tin, level the surface, and bake for 45 mins – the cake may still be a little gooey in the centre at this point. Remove from the oven and increase the heat to 200C/ 180C fan/gas 6.

5. 5

   Make the topping. Rub the butter, sugar and flour together with your fingers to a crumbly breadcrumb texture. Grate in 200g reserved marzipan, add the flaked almonds and golden syrup. Mix everything with a fork, making sure it stays crumbly and doesn’t clump. Sprinkle over the cake and return to the oven for 12-15 mins. Meanwhile, divide the rest of the marzipan into 11 and roll into balls.

6. 6

   Remove the cake from the oven once cooked through, arrange the marzipan balls on top and allow to cool in the tin. Mix the icing sugar with enough orange juice to give a runny icing, drizzle it all over the cake, then let it set a little before slicing it.