Almond Butter Cake With Crunchy Almond Topping Food

M. CUNNINGHAM'S ALMOND BUTTER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350-degrees.
• Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring regularly.
• Pour the melted butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar into a large bowl and stir until smooth.
• Crack the eggs right into the same bowl and mix until the batter is creamy and all one color.
• Add the salt, almond extract, vanilla extract, and flour and stir briskly until the batter is smooth.
• Grease the bottom and sides of a 9-inch round cake pan with butter or nonstick cooking spray.
• Using a rubber spatula, scrape the batter from the bowl into the greased cake pan.
• Spread it evenly in the pan.
• Sprinkle the tablespoon of sugar, then the sliced almonds, over the top of the batter.
• Put the pan on the middle rack of the oven and set the timer for 35 minutes.
• When it rings, check to see if the cake is done.
• It should be light brown on top, and when you insert a toothpick in the center, it should have a few sticky crumbs adhering to it.
• If the cake is not browned enough and the toothpick comes out too wet, put the cake back in the oven and check it again in another 10 minutes.
• When the cake is done, remove it from the oven and let it cool on a heatproof counter for at least 30 minutes.
• Cut the cake into small wedges and serve with fresh fruit.
• This cake will stay fresh for about a week and will freeze indefinitely.
• Wrap it tightly in foil, or in a plastic bag you can seal with a zip or tie.
• Storing nuts: Whenever you have leftover nuts, freeze them in a plastic bag closed tightly.
• They will keep indefinitely in the freezer.

ALMOND BUTTER CAKE WITH CRUNCHY ALMOND TOPPING

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch cake pan.
• In a large bowl, stir together sugar and butter until blended. Stir in eggs, one at a time, mixing well. Stir in almond extract, vanilla, and salt. Stir in flour until it is mixed in well.
• Pour the batter into cake pan. Smooth the top. Sprinkle sugar over the top. Sprinkle with almonds.
• Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until top is golden. Using a toothpick won't work with this cake!
• Cut into wedges and serve warm, chilled, or at room temperature.

CRUNCHY ALMOND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
• Butter and flour an 8-inch round cake pan.
• Tip: Take the chill off refrigerated eggs by setting them in a bowl of warm water while you prepare the other ingredients.
• Using a food processor, grind together the whole almonds and the granulated sugar (use the food processor's pulse feature to grind the almonds and sugar so you don't turn the mixture into nut butter).
• Transfer to a medium bowl.
• Beat in eggs, butter, milk, honey, vanilla and orange peel until smooth.
• Sift the flour, baking powder and salt over the egg mixture and fold in until just combined (sift the flour, baking powder and salt over the cake batter to avoid overmixing; for a tender crumb, fold in sifted dry ingredients with a rubber spatula until just combined).
• Transfer the batter to the prepared pan.
• Scatter the sliced almonds on top.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 45-50 minutes.
• Transfer the cake to a rack to cool.
• Sift confectioners' sugar over the top just before serving.

ALMOND-CRUNCH ICE CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• Cake:Preheat oven to 300 degrees with rack in center. Spread whole almonds in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet; bake until golden, about 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack; let cool completely.
• Pulse whole almonds and cake flour in a food processor until finely ground, about 30 seconds.
• Butter two 7-inch round cake pans. Line pans with parchment; butter parchment.
• In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat together egg whites and salt on medium speed until soft peaks form. Increase speed to high and gradually add 1/2 cup sugar, beating until stiff and glossy, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.
• Clean mixer bowl and return to mixer fitted with the whisk attachment; beat together egg yolks and vanilla. With mixer on high speed, gradually add remaining 1/2 cup sugar, beating until pale and thick, about 5 minutes.
• Fold egg-white mixture into egg-yolk mixture. In three additions, fold in almond mixture. Divide batter evenly between prepared pans, smoothing tops with an offset spatula.
• Bake until a tester inserted in centers comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer pans to a wire rack; let cool completely. Turn out cakes and wrap in plastic until ready to use.
• Almond Crunch:Increase oven temperature to 325 degrees. In a medium bowl, toss together sliced almonds, granulated sugar, and 2 tablespoons water. Spread almond mixture evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until golden, about 25 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack; let cool completely.
• Assembly:Bring granulated sugar and 1/3 cup water to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally. When sugar has dissolved, remove from heat; add amaretto, if using, and almond extract. Let cool completely.
• Using a serrated knife, split each cake horizontally into two equal layers.
• Cut three 24-by-6-inch strips of parchment. Place strips on top of one another and use to line the sides of a 7-inch springform pan. Generously brush tops of cake layers with syrup. Place a cake layer in prepared pan.
• In the chilled bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat ice cream on medium-low speed until spreadable, about 2 minutes. Spread about 2 cups ice cream over first cake layer. Crumble 1/2 cup almond crunch over ice cream. Top with a second cake layer; transfer to freezer until firm, about 20 minutes. Repeat, spreading 2 cups ice cream and 1/2 cup almond crunch between each layer. Finish with a cake layer. Freeze 1 hour.
• Just before serving, whisk cream and confectioners' sugar to medium peaks in a chilled bowl. Remove cake from freezer and release sides of pan. Transfer cake to a serving platter. Tuck parchment strips under perimeter of cake. Frost top and sides of cake with whipped cream; remove parchment strips. Garnish top with remaining almond crunch; serve immediately.

ALMOND BROWN BUTTER CAKE WITH PLUMS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F and set the oven to the middle position.
• Brush an 8-inch cake pan with melted butter, line with a round of parchment paper, and brush with a little more butter. Cook the butter over medium heat until the solids settle to the bottom and the butter turns a deep tawny brown and smells nutty, 8 to 10 minutes. Pour through a fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth or a coffee filter.
• Sift the flour and sugar together and add the ground almonds.
• Beat the egg whites and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer until they form stiff peaks.
• Add the flour mixture in a steady stream and mix until smooth. Add the brown butter and the almond extract and mix until just combined. Pour the batter into the pan, arrange the plums in a circular pattern on top, and sprinkle with the sliced almonds. Bake until the top is golden brown and the sides of the cake have pulled away slightly from the pan, about 45 minutes.
• Cool the cake in the pan. Sift a little powdered sugar over the top before serving.
• Variation: Substitute 1/2 pound pitted, whole fresh cherries in place of the plums.
• To make 12 individual cakes: Brush a muffin tin with melted butter and distribute the batter, fruit, and almonds evenly. Bake until golden brown and cooked through- about 25 minutes.

ALMOND CRUNCH POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9-inch springform pan.
• Combine slivered almonds, 1/3 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup butter, and milk in a small saucepan over low heat; cook and stir until butter is melted and mixture is smooth, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove topping from heat.
• Combine 1 1/2 cup flour, cream of tartar, and salt in a bowl.
• Beat 3/4 cup softened butter and almond paste in a large bowl using an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add 1 cup white sugar and continue beating until mixture is light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in eggs one at a time, beating 1 minute after each addition; stir in lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract. Add flour mixture and beat until batter is just mixed, about 1 minute more; pour into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
• Sprinkle remaining 1 tablespoon flour evenly over batter. Spoon the topping over the flour layer.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

BUTTERY ALMOND CRUNCH

Steps:

• Line an 8-in. square pan with foil; butter the foil with 1/2 tablespoon butter. Set aside., Spread the sides of a heavy saucepan with 1/2 tablespoon butter. Add 1/2 cup of butter, sugar and corn syrup. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Cook and stir until mixture is golden brown, about 3 minutes. Stir in almonds. Quickly pour into prepared pan. , Refrigerate until firm. Invert pan and remove foil. Break candy into pieces.