Fruitcake -- some Ellen miserably picked up (6)
I believe the answer is:
simnel
'fruitcake' is the definition.
'some ellen miserably picked up' is the wordplay.
'some' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue (some of the parts of the word are used).
'picked up' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'lenmis' is hidden within 'ellen miserably'.
'lenmis' reversed gives 'SIMNEL'.
(Other definitions for simnel that I've seen before include "Lambert --, pretender to the English throne" , "(Easter) cake" , "Sweet fruitcake in elms, oddly" , "Lambert ---, pretender; a sort of cake" .)