Keeping a decorated Simnel cake for longer

Asked on 13 Mar 2019 by Lizmadaboutnature

Delia's Simnel Cake with gorgeous brandy marzipan: I want to make it to enter in a cookery class at the local horticultural show on 23.03.19. It will then not be eaten until Easter, 4 weeks later; I know fruit cake keeps well but I'm concerned about the marzipan? What do you think, please?

Lindsey, Food Editor replied

Hello,

Four weeks is longer than I would keep a Simnel cake. As Simnel is a light fruit cake it doesn’t mature in the same way as a rich fruit cake, so it it’s more likely to dry out.

If possible, I would wrap the cake on its board in a freezer bag and keep it frozen until the day before you want to serve it.

However, if that is out of the question…

After the show, I would use a pastry brush to paint the exposed sides of the cake with brandy. Then I would wrap the whole decorated cake to stop the marzipan from drying out and then check it a few days before you intend to serve to make sure the marzipan is good to serve or if it needs replacing.

In this situation I would to put the decorated cake (on its board) into a large plastic food bag (and then into a cake tin) and then keep it in a cool dark place.

Kind regards

Lindsey

Lizmadaboutnature replied

Thanks Lindsey; that's really helpful. I'll probably go for the freezing option, I think; I was sure about freezing the marzipan!

Lindsey, Food Editor replied

You can freeze it for up to 6 months