Refers to a light fruit cake covered in marzipan (similar to a Christmas cake) and eaten at Easter in the UK and Ireland. The word 'simnel' probably derived from the Latin word 'simila', meaning fine, wheaten flour with which the cakes were traditionally made. On the top of the cake, 11 marzipan balls are placed around the edge, to represent the true apostles of Jesus (Judas is omitted). In some variations Christ is also represented, by a ball placed at the centre. A layer of almond paste or marzipan is also baked into the middle of the cake.