A light, round cake often eaten at Easter or traditionally during Lent, sometimes containing dried fruit or spices, also spelled 'simnel.'
From Latin simila (fine flour), this word traveled through Old English and Middle English. The spelling varies between cimnel and simnel, showing the word's evolution through different regional pronunciations.
Simnel cakes have a fascinating tradition: medieval bakers put an almond paste layer inside, creating a symbolic representation of the apostles around Christ. Each region developed its own version—the Devizes cake in England became so famous that Devizes is still called the 'Simnel Town'!
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