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• Total Time 190 min
• Yield 11 Servings
• Level Medium

A long standing English tradition, here is an Easter fruit cake signifying the end of Lent, a period of fasting and repentance. This cake is rich with fruits, spices and marzipan all of which are forbidden during Lent. The 11 marzipan balls ringing the top of the cake represent the 11 Apostles (Judas is excluded).
hide‹A long standing English tradition, here is an Easter fruit cake signifying the end of Lent, a period of fasting and repentance. This cake is rich with fruits, spices and marzipan all of which are forbidden d...
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Ingredients

• 1 cup butter (margarine), softened
• 1 cup sugar, light brown or white superfine
• 4 eggs
• 1 3/4 cups flour, self rising or all purpose with 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/3 cups golden raisins
• 1 cup dried currants
• 2/3 cup candied cherries - rinsed, dried and quartered
• 1/4 cup candied mixed fruit peel, chopped
• 2 tablespoons lemon zest, grated
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 1 pound almond paste (marzipan)
• 2 tablespoons apricot jam
• 1 egg, beaten

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Directions

1. 1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Grease and flour an 8 inch springform pan. Line the bottom and sides of pan with greased parchment paper.
2. 2. In a large bowl cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time then mix in the flour. Stir in the golden raisins, currants, candied cherries, candied fruit peel, lemon zest, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. Pour 1/2 of batter into prepared pan.
3. 3. Divide the almond paste into 3 equal parts. Roll one portion into an 8 inch circle. Place the circle of almond paste on the cake batter in pan. Cover with remaining cake batter.
4. 4. Bake for 2 1/2 hours or until evenly brown and firm to the touch. If the cake is browning too quickly cover with foil after an hour of baking. Let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.
5. 5. When the cake has cooled, brush the top with warmed apricot jam. Roll the second portion of the almond paste into an 8 inch circle and place on top of cake.
6. 6. Divide the remaining portion of the almond paste into 11 parts and roll each into a ball. Brush the almond paste on top of cake with beaten egg. Arrange the 11 balls around the outer edge of the top of the cake. Brush the balls lightly with egg.
7. 7. Turn on the broiler and place cake under it for 8 to 10 minutes or until almond paste is golden brown.