Kim Dearing of Oooh La Laa suggests a classic recipe that is easy to make and tastes delicious
Ingredients
8oz butter, softened
8oz soft brown sugar
4 free range eggs
8oz plain flour
Pinch of salt
1 tsp mixed spice
1lb 5oz mixed fruit
1 lemon, zested
1 orange, zested
2lb good quality golden marzipan
2 tbsp apricot jam
Icing sugar
1 Preheat the oven to 140?C. Line an 8 inch deep round cake tin with baking parchment or greaseproof paper.
2 Dust the worksurface with icing sugar and roll out a third of the marzipan in a circle to fit the tin. Place to one side.
3 Beat the butter and sugar, adding one egg at a time to the mix. Add the mixed fruit, salt, mixed spice, lemon and orange zest and sieved flour. Mix thoroughly.
4 Spoon half the mixture into the tin, spreading evenly, then lay the circle of marzipan on top and spoon on the rest of the mixture.
5 Bake in the centre of the oven for approximately 2 hours, until the cake is well risen and firm to touch. Leave to cool for about 30 minutes before turning the cake out onto a wire rack.
6 Once cool, warm the apricot jam with a tablespoon of water and brush over the top of the cake with a pastry brush.
7 Roll out half the remaining marzipan in a circle to fit the top of the cake, place on top and crimp the edges using your fingers and thumb.
8 Roll the rest of the marzipan into a long sausage and cut into 11 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and place evenly around the edge of the top of the cake. To help them stick, brush with a little water.
9 Lightly sieve icing sugar over the top of the cake. Place under a hot grill to brown, watching carefully to prevent the marzipan burning. Alternatively, use a kitchen blowtorch.
About Kim: Kim Dearing studied Home Economics at Sheffield University before setting up Matlock-based Oooh La Laa Cakes several years ago, selling homemade products at farmers markets, festivals and county shows. After spotting a gap in the market for French crêpes, Kim travelled to Brittany and trained in the art of making the traditional Breton-style crêpes. She has since expanded her business to include them, creating them with flour from Caudwell’s Mill in Rowsley.
Last year, Kim created a Derbyshire flag cake which was presented to HM The Queen on her visit to Chatsworth. In April, Kim will be attending: 3rd and 9th Buxton Pavilion Gardens; 2th-6th Denby Pottery Spring Food & Gift Fair; 11th-12th BASC Gamekeepers’ Fair, Catton Hall; 25th-26th Bakewell Food Festival. Oooh La Laa Crêpes is also available for private events.
Further details can be found at www.ooohlalaa.com