Crunchy Almond Cake Food

ALMOND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Butter and flour an 8-inch round cake pan.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, cake flour and baking powder. Using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and almond paste on high speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Reduce speed to low and add vanilla extract and slowly pour in confectioners' sugar. Mix until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Raise speed to high and add the egg yolks and whole eggs, one at a time. Reduce speed to medium and add the sour cream and dry ingredients and mix until just incorporated.
• Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the surface with a spatula. Bake in the lower third of the oven for 35 minutes, or until the cake is golden and pulls away from the sides of the pan. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cool. Remove from pan and dust with confectioners' sugar.

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.

HONEY ALMOND CRUNCH CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Thickly butter a 6-cup loaf pan. Pour in 3 tablespoons of the melted butter, swirl to coat the bottom, and sprinkle in 1/4-cup of the brown sugar. Drizzle in 2 tablespoons of the honey and sprinkle the almonds evenly over the bottom.
• In a large bowl, whisk the egg. Add the remaining 3/4-cup brown sugar and mix. Add the remaining 4 tablespoons melted butter and 1/2 cup honey and mix. Gradually mix in the buttermilk.
• In another large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Working in batches, and mixing after each addition, add the dry ingredients to the buttermilk mixture. Mix until smooth.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until a tester inserted into the middle of the cake comes out dry and almost clean (a few crumbs are okay) 50 to 55 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and let cool until the topping is firm.

ALMOND CRUNCH CAKE

Steps:

• CAKE: Sift together flour and 3/4 c sugar.
• Make a well in the center, add egg yolks, water, lemon juice, vanilla and beat until smooth.
• Beat egg whites, cream of tartar and salt just until soft peaks form.
• Add remaining sugar, 2 T at a time, continuing to beat until stiff.
• Fold flour mixture gently into egg whites.
• Pour batter into an ungreased 10-inch tube pan.
• Cut carefully through the batter, going around tube 5 or 6 times with a knife to break air bubbles.
• Bake at 350 for 50-55 minutes or until top springs back when lightly touched.
• Invert pan 1 hour or until cool.
• Remove cake and split into 4 equal layers.
• ALMOND BRITTLE TOPPING: Combine sugar, coffee, syrup, and water in a saucepan, stirring well.
• Cook to hard crack stage, 290 degrees, remove from heat and add soda.
• Stir vigorously until mixture blends and pulls away from sides of pan.
• Quickly pour into an ungreased shallow baking pan.
• Let stand until cool.
• Knock out of pan and crush candy with a rolling pin into small chunks.
• Whip cream and fold in sugar and vanilla.
• Spread half of cream between layers and remainder over top and sides.
• Cover top and sides with candy, lightly pressing into cream.
• Decorate with almonds.
• Do not press candy and almonds into cream more than 6 hours before serving.
• Refrigerate.

ALMOND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Grease an 8-inch round cake pan with vegetable spray. An alternative is to butter and flour the cake pan.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, cake flour and baking powder and set aside.
• Using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and almond paste on high speed until smooth, about 5 minutes. Reduce speed to low and slowly add confectioners' sugar. Mix until thoroughly combined and light and fluffy. Raise speed to high and add the vanilla extract, whole eggs and egg yolks, 1 at a time. Mix until well combined. Reduce speed to medium and add the sour cream and dry ingredients and mix until just incorporated.
• Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the surface with a spatula. Bake in the lower third of the oven for 35 minutes, or until the cake is golden and pulls away from the sides of the pan. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cool. Remove from pan and dust with confectioners' sugar.

HONEY ALMOND CRUNCH CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Thickly butter a 6-cup loaf pan.
• Pour in 3 tablespoons of the melted butter, swirl to coat the bottom
• Sprinkle in 1/4-cup of the brown sugar
• Drizzle in 2 tablespoons of the honey and sprinkle the almonds evenly over the bottom.
• In a large bowl, whisk the egg.
• Add the remaining 3/4-cup brown sugar and mix.
• Add the remaining 4 tablespoons melted butter and 1/2 cup honey and mix.
• Gradually mix in the buttermilk.
• In another large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
• Working in batches, and mixing after each addition, add the dry ingredients to the buttermilk mixture. Mix until smooth.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until a tester inserted into the middle of the cake comes out dry and almost clean (a few crumbs are okay) 50 to 55 minutes.
• Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and let cool until the topping is firm.

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.

ALMOND SNACK CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, beat eggs until light and lemon-colored. Gradually add 2 cups sugar, beating until combined. Stir in butter, flour, salt and extract. , Spread into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Sprinkle with almonds and remaining sugar. Bake 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

ALMOND CRUNCH

Steps:

• Line a 15x10x1-in. baking pan with foil; line the foil with parchment. Arrange crackers in pan; set aside., In a large heavy saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in brown sugar. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 3-4 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. Spread evenly over crackers. , Bake at 350° for 15-17 minutes (cover loosely with foil if top browns too quickly). Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Stir in almonds; spread over top. Cool for 1 hour. , Break into pieces. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until set. Store in an airtight container.

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 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 NUT CAKE DECORATION

Steps:

• Bake the Apricot & almond fruitcake (see recipe to the right of this one) or any other 20-23cm fruitcake but bring out of the oven 10 mins before the end of the cooking time. Increase oven temperature to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Gently heat the golden syrup and butter in a saucepan.
• When it is all melted and runny, stir in toasted flaked almonds, whole blanched almonds and plain flour. Use a couple of teaspoons to dot the mixture all over the top of the cake, and pop back in the oven for 12-15 mins until the topping is nicely golden. Cool, then remove from the tin and cover the sides with pretty ribbons. Lightly dust the cake with icing sugar to finish.

HONEY CAKE WITH HONEYED ALMOND CRUNCH

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease a 900g/2lb loaf tin and line with a strip of baking parchment that overhangs each end - this will help you lift the cake out when it is cooked.
• Put the butter, honey, caster sugar, ground almonds, flour, baking powder, bicarb and yogurt into a large mixing bowl. Put the egg whites into another small bowl. Put the yolk and remaining whole egg in with all the other ingredients.
• Whisk the whites until stiff, then put your electric beater into the other bowl of ingredients and beat until just smooth. Stir in a third of the whites, then gently fold in the rest with a wooden spoon. Tip the mix into the prepared tin, scatter over the flaked almonds and bake for 55 mins on the middle-lower shelf of the oven until golden and a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.
• Remove the cake from the oven. Quickly drizzle with 2 tbsp honey and scatter with a small pinch of fine salt. Put back in the oven for 5 mins more. Remove from the oven, drizzle with 2 more tbsp honey, then cool in the tin on a wire rack. Release stuck almonds from around the edge with a knife; then, using the parchment overhangs, carefully lift the cake from the tin. Eat in slices, drizzled with a little extra honey if you like.