Baking experts - urgent! I know IABU...

[SuperMoonIsKeepingMeUpToo]

... to be posting this in AIBU but IDC! I'm just about to take my first ever Simnel cake out of the oven and I've realised I didn't put my (homemade!) almond paste in it. Can I slice it in half when it comes out and stick it in? Or will it collapse? Do I need to come to terms with the fact that my Simnel cake is going to be missing that lovely, sweet gooey bit?

Help!

[SpongeBobJudgeyPants]

Would be tempted to put it on the top instead, so no risk.

[TondelayaDellaVentamiglia]

just put extra on the top!

I have done it with and without in the middle and find it tends to make it gooey and difficult to tell when the cake is actually done.

Remember to only put 11 balls on the top! No Judas!! ;)

[FlaviaAlbia]

You don't be able to cut it til it's cold or it'll fall apart, so you try to think of it as an Easter version of a Victoria sponge and put it in the middle after its cold using apricot jam to glue it...

[FlaviaAlbia]

You won't, autocorrect... Sorry..

[SuperFlyHigh]

Ok help!

I baked a nice fruit cake for Xmas but due to family hospital illness we didn't make ie decorate it or could eat it then.

I had just thought I could top it with almond paste and icing afterwards? Can I? Will it be ruined? Can't put it inside obviously.

Help!!!!

[SuperFlyHigh]

Or flavia should I try to cut fruit cake now (may be hard quite heavy...) and add almond paste?

[FinallyHere]

Your cake from Christmas, if it is a fruit cake, will be delicious now. As PP suggested, marzipan on top, held in place with sieved apricot jam and then drizzled with white icing, and decorated with a few bunny rabbits and chopped up green paper for grass will be great.

[wonders off, wondering whether that was why my mother made an easter cake one year]

[SuperMoonIsKeepingMeUpToo]

Thanks all - you've saved me from the certain calamity of cutting it hot. The kids just got some marzipan sweets instead and I've prepared my marzipan balls (11!)

[FlaviaAlbia]

Super yes, you can do it now I'd go for marzipan on top myself like FinallyHere describes.

I've been baking all afternoon with a 3yo, my kitchen was spotless and now it looks like an explosion in a flour factory. I'm considering power hosing it.

[SuperFlyHigh]

Terrific thank you Finally, SuperMoon and Flavia.

Yes Finally it is a Christmas cake with a bit of alcohol in it!

There's no Lakeland etc nearby for rabbit decorations but I'll try the Simnel balls and add small foil coloured chocolate eggs on top. I also have a gold ribbon to wrap round it.

Finally I think I can find a gift shop that sells green tissue paper.