Almond

Almond Cake

Almond+Cake.jpg

Makes 16, 2-inch squares.  

Simple to make, rich in almond flavor, this dessert is delicious served as a snack or with tea. I like to cut the cake into almost bite size squares, but that’s my preference. The whole preparation is done in a food processor.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1½ cups plus 1/3 cup sliced, blanched almonds, toasted (See Note)

  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour

  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder

  • 1/8 teaspoon baking soda

  • 4 large eggs, at room temperature

  • ¾ cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar

  • Zest of 2 lemons

  • ¾ teaspoon almond extract

  • ½ cup extra -virgin olive oil

PREPARATION:

  1. Line with parchment paper a 9 inch square baking pan, making sure that the paper extends a little over the rim.  

  2. Preheat the oven to 300F. 

  3. In a small bowl combine 1/3 cup sliced almonds with 2 tablespoons sugar and zest of 1 lemon.

  4. This will be the TOPPING.  

  5. Place 1½ cups almonds, flour, baking powder and baking soda in a food processor fitted with the steel blade and pulse until the almonds are finely ground. Transfer to a bowl.  

  6. Place the eggs, ¾ cup sugar, the rest of the lemon zest and almond extract into the food processor and pulse until the mixture is light and frothy.  

  7. With the processor running, slowly add the oil through the feed tube until thoroughly combined. Add the almond mixture and pulse to combine. 

  8. Pour the mixture into the pan and sprinkle with the topping. 

  9. Bake 45- 50 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Place on a wire rack to cool.

NOTE:

I toast the almonds in a 350F preheated oven on a cookie sheet for about 10 minutes or until lightly golden. 

 

Honey Nut Balls

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Makes about 6 dozen cookies. 

Easy to make, nutritious and not too sweet, these treats keep well refrigerated or frozen for a long time. 

I store them in a tight-fitting container with wax paper in between the layers.

INGREDIENTS:

  • ½ pound almonds, about 2 cups

  • ½ pound walnuts, about 2½ cups

  • Grated rind of 1 lemon

  • Grated rind of 1 orange

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • 1 tablespoon orange juice

  • ½ cup honey

  • 3 large egg whites, at room temperature, whisked

  • ¾-1 cup flour

  • Confectioner’s sugar for dusting the cookies

PREPARATION:

  1. Line 2 large cookie sheets with parchment paper. 

  2. Preheat the oven to 350F. 

  3. Roast almonds and walnuts in a single layer for about 10 minutes.  

  4. Reduce the oven to 250F. 

  5. Chop the nuts coarsely, SEPERATELY IN BATCHES, in a food processor fitted with the steel blade.

  6. Transfer to a bowl with the rinds, juices, honey and egg whites. Mix well.

  7. Add flour gradually, mixing with a wooden spoon to form a thick, but not stiff mixture.  

  8. Roll generous teaspoonfuls of mixture into balls between damp (not wet) palms. You will have to rinse your hands from time to time. Place on the cookie sheets and bake for 20 minutes, until the tops feel firm to the touch. 

  9. Cool on a wire rack and dust with confectioner’s sugar.

 
 

Almond Tea Cake

Makes 12 servings.

This pareve tea cake has a touch of almond flavor, light texture and is easy to make. It keeps fresh for quite a few days. Leftovers can be toasted. If you like to make it more special you can serve it with a fruit sorbet and seasonal fruits.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted margarine at room temperature, cut into small pieces plus ½ tablespoon for greasing the pan.
  • ¼ cup unbleached all purpose flour, plus 1 tablespoon for dusting the pan.
  • ¾ cup unblanched almond flour, 2 ounces (See Note)
  • 4 whole large eggs, at room temperature
  • 3 large egg yolks, at room temperature
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  •  ¾ cup blanched sliced almonds, 2 ounces

PREPARATION:

  1. Preheat oven to 350F.
  2. Grease a 9 x 2/12 inch spring form pan with margarine and dust it with flour. Invert the pan and tap to shake off the excess flour.
  3. In a small dish combine flour and almond flour.
  4. Place all the eggs in the bowl of an electric stand mixer. Using a balloon whisk attachment, beat the eggs, at medium speed, adding the sugar gradually for 4 minutes.
  5. With the motor running, add the margarine, the baking powder and almond extract.  
  6. With a rubber spatula, fold slowly the flours. There should be no traces of flour visible.
  7. Pour the batter into the pan, sprinkle the almonds evenly on top and bake 20 minutes or until the cake is lightly golden and springy to the touch.
  8. Cool on a wire rack.
  9. Run a metal spatula around the sides of the pan and remove the rim. Release the bottom and slide unto a platter.   

NOTE:

I use Bob’s Red Mill ground almond flour. Almond flour is readily available in health food stores and many supermarkets.  If you prefer to make your own, it is simply blanched almonds ground to a flour consistency.