Looking for more recipes like this? You’ll love these almond crumb bars, almond biscotti, and almond cream cheese scones. It makes a perfectly festive breakfast for the holidays! A crumbly almond streusel topping adds crunch, and the sweet almond icing drizzled over the top is the perfect finish.Īs a bonus, I’ve also included in today’s post a variation for cranberry almond coffee cake, which is just bursting with bright red, tart cranberries. Inside the cake is a sweet and creamy layer of cream cheese and almond paste.

Today’s high altitude almond coffee cake features a light, fluffy and very moist cake, made with butter and sour cream, and subtly spiced with nutmeg and cloves. If you hand me a tray of pastries to choose from, I’ll pick the one filled with almond paste. My love of almond extract runs deep, thanks to my Danish heritage.

Dust heavily with confectioner’s sugar and serve with sugared berries if desired.Almond cake and pastries are some of the best sweet treats there are. Carefully pull of the parchment paper and place the cake on a decorative platter.

Once the cake is cooled, use two large spatulas to lift it off of the springform pan bottom.

Allow the Italian Almond Cake to cool completely on the wire rack. Release the spring and carefully remove the sides of the pan. At this point run a sharp knife around the sides of the springform pan, being sure to press the knife against the sides of the pan as you go around.

Remove the cake to a wire rack and allow to cool for 30 minutes.

The cake is done when the toothpick comes out clean, generally about 45 minutes depending upon your oven.

Place the cake pan into the preheated oven and after 30 minutes quickly open the oven door to test doneness with a wooden toothpick.

Top the cake batter with the sliced almonds this is a rather heavy coating of almonds, resist the urge to skimp.

Turn the batter into the prepared springform pan and spread evenly with an offset spatula.

Continue to fold in the flour until no traces of white powder remain, the batter will be quite thick. Gently incorporate the flour using a rubber spatula with deep strokes to be certain that the flour has been added uniformly.

Remove the work bowl from the mixer stand and begin to add the cake flour & baking powder by hand using a sifter over the work bowl.

The batter should be homogeneous and creamy. Continue until you have incorporated all 4 of the eggs.

Begin to add the eggs one at a time beating for one minute after each addition, scraping down the bowl midway.

Add the softened butter and grated orange zest, cream on medium-high speed until the mixture is uniform and somewhat fluffy.

This could take some time so please be patient.

Place the almond paste and granulated sugar in the work bowl of a standing mixer on medium-low speed and cream until the almond paste has been uniformly broken into soft granular like pieces.

Butter the sides and bottom of a 9” springform pan, then line the bottom with a circle of buttered parchment.

Preheat the oven to 325º and arrange a shelf in the middle.

Subscribe to La Bella Sorella in the space below. Why not bake Almond Cake for someone you love in the coming week? Grazie da cuore bella cuginetta – I only hope to prepare this for you some day. It is rich enough to serve on its own or with some fresh berries on the side along with a nice espresso. This moist, tender cake highlights the almond paste magnificently. The other ingredients are more than likely in your pantry: eggs, cake flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, sliced almonds, and an orange (ok you may not have an orange, but this is easy to remedy). Not to worry, the varieties commonly available in your local supermarket will do just fine in this recipe.Įven through the dog days of summer Italian Almond Cake is a breeze to prepare – a one bowl torta. The Italian almond paste was supple and less sweet than the brands readily available in the United States a natural product consisting of almonds and sugar from Calabria. A classic Italian Almond Cake or Torta di Mandorle would be a spectacular way to pay tribute to this wonderful gift. I simply had to do something special with it. On my last visit to Italy my cousin surprised me with a supply of Italian almond paste, so fragrant that when I arrived home the sweet smell of almonds perfumed the contents of our luggage. Almond paste or pasta di mandorle is the basis for popular sweets throughout the Italian peninsula. Almond based dishes are a staple of Cucina Italiana from beverages to decadent desserts.

Almond paste cake