Simnel Muffins

These pretty Simnel Muffins are an exciting twist on the tradition Easter Simnel cake we enjoy at this time of year. With their lovely light texture and full of fruit and fun, these muffins are sure to become an Easter tradition in your household. Delicious pockets of marzipan further add to the flavour of these fantastic muffins. The gorgeous daffodil decoration also creates an enjoyable family activity for the Easter weekend!

This recipe uses Mellow Yellow Rapeseed Oil providing a subtle buttery taste, making it perfect for these muffins. Our Mellow Yellow Rapeseed Oil is also low in saturated fat and high in Omega 3

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Ingredients

85g raisins
90g sultananas
1 orange zested, 1/2 juiced
1 lemon zested and juiced
275g marzipan
2 eggs
100ml Mellow Yellow Rapeseed oil
120ml milk (alternative milks can be used)
120g golden caster sugar
235g self-raising flour
3/4 tsp mixed spice

Method

Put the sultanas and raisins, orange juice, lemon juice and both citrus zests in a bowl. Either leave to soak for at least 1 hr, or we speed up the process by putting it in the microwave for 1 minute stirring after 30 seconds, this makes the fruit plump up and quickly absorb the liquid.

Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cases (our cases measure5cm wide at the base, 4cm high and 7.5cm wide at the top).
Dice 155g of the marzipan into small chunks and set aside. In a large bowl, add the sugar, eggs, milk and Mellow Yellow Oil and beat well to thoroughly combine. Add the marzipan chunks, the fruit mixture and the flour and mixed spice, then mix thoroughly.
Divide the mixture between the muffin cases and bake for 25-30 mins until risen and golden. Leave to cool in the tin for 5-10 mins, then remove to a wire rack and leave to cool completely.
Roll out the remaining marzipan to make 12 discs and balls to decorate the top of the muffins (ours balls weighed 6 grams each - it’s useful to weight them so that they’re all the same size). See the video for our decoration method.

Happy Easter!