Chocolate Macarons Simnel Cake
A modern twist of a traditional Easter cake.
A very last minute decision when The Pom mentioned about this cake that his mum will usually make during Easter every year, it sounds so very interesting and I simply have to make it. “There were twelve apostles but then one of them is naughty and I can’t remember his name, so anyway he is not included in the cake,” explained The Pom. Judas, he meant and it is the traditional Simnel Cake we are talking about.
I have never heard of Simnel Cake, and I don’t think it is very common in Australia either. Simnel Cake has been known since Medieval times, when young girls in service would make one to be taken home to their mothers on their Sunday day off. It is a fruity cake, similar to a Christmas cake, covered in marzipan, and eaten during the Easter period in Great Britain, Ireland and some other countries. Traditionally, it is decorated with eleven marzipan balls on top around the edge of the cake to represent the true disciples of Jesus; Judas is omitted because he is naughty.
I am not a big fan of solid fruit cake and also the amount of marzipan used in the traditional Simnel Cake recipe, so I gave it a modern twist and came up with my own recipe. I’ve decided to make a rich chocolate cake but will still keep the mixed fruit inside. The recipe I have adapted is from Nigella Lawson’s ridiculously simple Traditional Chocolate Cake in her big book Feast. It is ridiculously simple and the cake came out light but rich in chocolate bitterness.
Instead of the traditional layer of marzipan that is baked inside, I also added a layer of sour cherries chocolate ganache which adds moisture to the cake and the tartness will balanced well with the bitter chocolate. As for the eleven marzipan balls on top, I’ve also decided to spend a little extra effort and replaced them by making my own chocolate ganache macarons. The only way to make the macarons stand on top of the cake is by “glueing” them using buttercream icing. It works like a treat.
I love fondant or marzipan covered cake, the smooth surface makes a big difference in presentation and also a lot easier to decorate with. This is not just the first time I covered a cake with marzipan, it is also my first time to make my own marzipan too! I still have a lot of almond meal left in the pantry from the “macarons” days, so I’ve decided to make my own chocolate marzipan. Besides, most store bought marzipan are usually just plain white colour without flavour. So to have chocolate flavour marzipan for this chocolate Simnel cake, you really have to make your own. Trust me, it is totally worth it.
I am very happy with the way it looks, and the chocolate cake is also one of the best I’ve tasted. The dark chocolate is bitter and rich, nicely counterbalance with the sweet buttercream icing and macarons., while the mixed fruit and sour cherries add tartness to it. I served it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, oh boy, I can see myself making Simnel Cake every Easter from now on.
Clockwise L to R: well mixed marzipan dough; all wrapped up and ready to be kept in the fridge to firm up a bit; newly piped macaron shells; macaron shells been sitting for 1 hr before baking.
For chocolate marzipan Ingredients 85g caster sugar 100g icing sugar 200g whole almond meal 50g dark cocoa powder 1 egg, plus 1 egg yolk Method 1. Add almond meal, sugars, cocoa into an electric mixer and blend to mix well. 2. Beat the egg and egg yolk together and then add to the dry mixture and blend until it comes together. 3. Scoop out onto a piece of clingfilm, then wrap it up tightly into a ball and place in the fridge. 4. You can make the marzipan the day before, no longer than a week, as it will dry out and gets crumbly.
For chocolate cake (adapted from Nigella Lawson's Feast) Ingredients 175g unsalted butter (room temperature) 200g plain flour 200g caster sugar 1 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp bicarbonate soda 1 1/2 cup mixed dried fruit 40g cocoa powder 2 eggs 1 tbsp instant coffee 150 ml sour cream Method 1. Preheat the oven to 180C. Line and grease a sandwich tins (8"/20cm). 2. Put the instant coffee in a mug/bowl and pour 1 tbsp of boiling water over the top and stir well. 3. Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and bicarb soda together and set aside. 4. Add sugar and butter in a food mixer and blend until light and fluffy. Add dry ingredient, egg, coffee, sour cream and blend until well combined. 5. Pour into tin and smooth. Put into the oven for around 30-35 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. 6. Let it cool in the tin for 10 minutes before turning onto the wire rack to cool completely.
For sour cherries chocolate ganache Ingredients 120g dark chocolate (I used 70%) 1 cup sour cherries (pitted) 1 tsp instant coffee 60 ml double cream 40 ml sour cream Method 1. Chop the chocolate into small pieces and place in a small bowl with instant coffee. 2. Heat the double cream and sour cream together in a small saucepan until nearly boiling then pour over the chocolate, ensuring all the pieces are submerged. 3. Leave for two or three minutes before beating until smooth and glossy. 4. Squeeze all the juice out of sour cherries, add into chocolate and mix well.
Clockwise L to R: eleven dark chocolate ganache macarons ready for assembly; polka dots pink ribbon to wrap around the cake to cover any blemish; Simnel cake is finally decorated; sprinkle icing sugar on top for that extra elegant touch
For buttercream icing Ingredients 100g unsalted butter (room temperature) 200g icing sugar 1 tsp vanilla essence Method 1. Add butter into a electric mixer and whisk until light and fluffy. 2. add sugar and keep whisking until well combined. 3. Add vanilla essence and whisk until soft and smooth. 4. Put inside a piping bag, and is ready for cake decoration.
To assemble the Simnel Cake
1. Split the cake side way into two, sandwich with sour cherries chocolate ganache. Put into the fridge and take out the marzipan.
2. Dust the surface liberally with cocoa powder, then rolling it out into a big circle. Use a piece of string to check it's big enough.
3. Get the cake out of the fridge and carefully place the centre of the marzipan circle over the cake and smooth down. Fold down over the sides and cut off any excess.
4. Prepare 11 macarons, or mazipan balls, place them evenly around the edge of the cake and make a mark on the cake with a fork.
5. Pipe the butter icing on the marked spots, then stick the macarons on top.
6. Dust the cake with icing sugar as final touch.
A Table For Two (ATFT) is Billy Law's food blog that features best eats in Sydney and around the world with drool-worthy food photography to salivate your appetite. I also throw in a smidgen of my food and travel photography for good measure. Billy Law also happened to be a contestant on MasterChef Australia 2011. 
Wow!!! wonderful pictures… your cake seems delicious. I have the same chicks in my chocolate tart for easter
http://devousamoi-dominique.blogspot.com/2010/04/tarte-chocolat-et-caramel.html
But I prefer yours, I’ve never seen so beautiful photos!!!
.-= Dominique (De vous à moi…)´s last blog ..Tarte Chocolat et Caramel =-.
This sounds like it’d taste like a fruity black forrest cake.
Bet Judas is annoyed that he’s missing out on a slice
too cute and too awesome. looks fantastic! happy easter!
.-= Simon Food Favourites´s last blog ..German Concordia Club: Hot Love, Tempe (3 April 2010) =-.
Wheee those chickies are back! Beautiful photos Billy. Yeah Simnel Cake isn’t very well known outside of UK and I haven’t had it in ages myself.
I remember eating it when I was young and I would pick off the marzipan balls and say that the “disciples tasted like s***”. I was a bit of a naughty child
.-= Karen | Citrus and Candy´s last blog ..Torta Pasqualina: Traditional Italian Easter ‘Cake’ =-.
I’ve heard of Simnel cake, but I never knew what it was. This sounds really tasty!
Your decorations are awesome – I love the macarons on top!
.-= Kaitlin´s last blog ..Spent =-.
How funny – I made a chocolate simnel cake this easter too and I stumbled across the very same Nigella recipe and covered it in chocolate marzipan! I can’t say mine had macarons though, good job!
.-= poiresauchocolat´s last blog ..Irish Tea Bread =-.
Seriously Billy. That’s outrageously amazing. Hats off to you.
Gorgeous looking cake. I like all the thought you put into every element. Any picture with those little yellow chickens are always very cute.
.-= Mark @ Cafe Campana´s last blog ..Easter Creation – White Chocolate & Macadamia Hot Cross Buns =-.
Sigh, I wish I could bake and decorate like you.
.-= foodwink´s last blog ..Lee and Me, Treetop Walk and Waterfall =-.
So pretty! Love the idea of a sour cherry chocolate ganache. Using macarons is a very elegant twist too.
I can just imagine Nigella Lawson licking her icing-dipping finger over this one – eyelashes fluttering “guiltily” at camera of course!
.-= Helen (grabyourfork)´s last blog ..Claypot King, Melbourne =-.
Spectacular creation there! I so can’t see myself having enough patience to go through making all those elements for the cake. I’d probably end up stopping after the macarons and eating them all!
.-= Angie´s last blog ..Sticky Date Pudding with Caramel/Butterscotch Sauce =-.
Never knew there was this Easter occasion cake…Don’t know if I want to find out ab0ut the ‘traditional’ version because this chocolate one looks SO good!
.-= mademoiselle délicieuse´s last blog ..Garfish Crows Nest, 27 March 2010 =-.
Wow! What a lot of work but such a lovely result!! Your photos are amazing! This cake looks perfect. Great job! Happy Easter.
Wow! This is one good looking cake. Absolutely stunning!
This looks absolutely gorgeous and a true masterpiece. Love the entire presentation.
.-= jo´s last blog ..Hippo in a Spa =-.
Review: This cake = HIT!!
The only concern I have is everything Nigella makes has about 3 tonnes of butter in it and ‘lashings’ of whipped cream. But this cake is true Yum.
.-= Peter´s last blog ..Grong Grong, NSW =-.
Beautiful, cute and damn delicious I’m sure. I’m with you on those fruit-filled cakes, I can’t stand them. This one’s right up my alley!
.-= john@heneedsfood´s last blog ..Gyoza with ginger soy dipping sauce =-.
What a beautiful cake Billy! I’m not a fan of fruit cakes but this looks delicious. Lovely macarons.
.-= Phuoc’n Delicious´s last blog ..Reminiscing: Palmiers from the food markets of Nice (France) =-.
That looks awesome!! *thumbs up
Awesome macarons too =)
.-= yuki´s last blog ..A Little Easter Story =-.
Ooh your cake looks amazing! I love the macaron decorations and the little chicks hehe. Judas seems to be missing out on a lot this Easter – first hot cross buns and now a slice of simnel cake!
.-= Jacq´s last blog ..Easter Eatings – Hot Cross Buns and Fairtrade Chocolate =-.
Just Beautiful Billy! Your cake making, baking skills are superior! Love the chicks and the macarons! A great twist!
.-= Peter G @ Souvlaki For The Soul´s last blog ..Heirloom Tomato Salad =-.
That is AMAZING. And the photos looks so delicious as well. I need to learn how to bake macarons.
.-= penny aka jeroxie´s last blog ..The birth of International Incident Parties =-.
I’d never heard of this cake either but it is so so pretty! Love the sound of that sour cherry chocolate ganache, cherry and chocolate always work so well together.
omg such a pretty cake! loving your macarons
.-= linda´s last blog ..Jas My Waffles, Rooty Hill =-.
Gosh, I’d love to eat it, but I don’t think I will make it! I’d probably get stuck at the marzipan stage. It’s a masterpiece. Brilliant work!
.-= The Little Teochew´s last blog ..Doughnut Pops =-.
Oohh never heard of Simnel cake before but I love the sound of the cherry chocolate ganache! Your work is truly inspirational man
.-= FFichiban´s last blog ..Tomislav – Darlinghurst, Sydney =-.
Hey Billy
Great photos, and what an effort. The cake looks like it took ages to make. Where did you get the patience? I would have stopped when the chocolate cake was done hehehe.
.-= Fouad´s last blog ..Maamoul – Recipes from a Traditional Lebanese Easter =-.
Billy, this is the cutest Easter cake ever! I just love your pictures!!!
wow..it looks soooo delicious!! beautiful and nice recipe..
btw Happy belated Easter 
.-= BNDQ8´s last blog ..P.F Chang’s – Dynamite Shrimps =-.
Oh that cake looks sweet and chocolatey! Great photos.
.-= kathy´s last blog ..Toddler Crafts: Paper Trucks =-.
I love the photos and the little chicks
I’m not a fan of marzipan but the chocolate mazipan sounds so yummy!
What great recipes! The pictures look good too.