Although it is not called a Simnel in The English Huswife (1615), Gervase Markham includes saffron in his Spice Cake, which contains many of the ingredients used in later recipes for Simnel Cake. It is Markham’s recipe that I have used as the basis for my homage to the original Simnel. This produces a brioche like ‘cake’ more akin to a tea bread. I’v
