Almond Apricot Food Processor Cake Recipes

ALMOND APRICOT CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat two 9-in. round cake pans with cooking spray. Line the bottoms with parchment paper; spray the paper. In a food processor, process 8 oz (21⁄2 cups) almonds and the cake meal until finely ground. On a baking sheet, lightly toast the remaining almonds; set aside.
• Using an electric mixer, beat the egg yolks to combine. Gradually beat in 1 cup sugar until combined. Increase speed and beat until the batter leaves a trail for 5 seconds, 4 to 5 minutes. Beat in the orange and lemon zests and extract. In three additions, fold in the nut mixture until fully incorporated.
• Using an electric mixer and a clean, dry bowl, beat the egg whites with the salt until foamy. Increase speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add 2 Tbsp sugar and beat until stiff (but not dry) peaks form. Stir half the whites into the yolk mixture, then fold in the remaining whites until no streaks remain (be careful not to over-fold).
• Divide the batter between the pans. Bake until a pick inserted into the center comes out dry, 23 to 25 minutes. Let the cakes cool completely in the pans.
• Meanwhile, place the apricots in a small saucepan. Add the lemon juice and remaining 2 Tbsp sugar. Cover with water (about 2 cups) and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until the apricots are plump and nearly all of the liquid has evaporated, about 20 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a food processor and purée until smooth.
• Invert one cake layer on to a serving platter. Spread 3⁄4 cup apricot purée on top, then sandwich with the remaining layer. Spread the remaining apricot mixture (about 11⁄4 cups) on the top and sides. Press the sliced almonds on the sides of the cake. Serve with whipped cream (if using).

APRICOT ALMOND CAKE WITH ROSEWATER AND CARDAMOM

Steps:

• Put the dried apricots into a small saucepan, cover them with the cold water, and drop in the cracked cardamom pods with their fragrant seeds. Put on the heat, then bring to the boil and let it bubble for 10 minutes--don't stray too far away from the pan, as by the end of the 10 minutes the pan will be just about out of water and you want to make sure it doesn't actually run dry as the apricots will absorb more water as they cool.
• Take the pan off the heat, place on a cold, heatproof surface and let the apricots cool. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C/gas mark 4/350 degrees F. Grease the sides of your springform cake tin and line the bottom with baking parchment.
• Remove 5 of the dried apricots and tear each in half, then set aside for the time being. Discard the cardamom husks, leaving the seeds in the pan.
• Pour and scrape out the sticky contents of the pan into the bowl of a food processor. Add the almond meal, polenta, baking powder, superfine sugar and eggs, and give a good long blitz to combine.
• Open the top of the processor, scrape down the batter, add 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and the rosewater, and blitz again, then scrape into the prepared tin and smooth with a spatula. Arrange the apricot halves around the circumference of the tin.
• Bake for 40 minutes, though if the cake is browning up a lot before it's actually ready, you may want to cover loosely with foil at the 30-minute mark. When it's ready, the cake will be coming away from the edges of the tin, the top will feel firm, and a cake tester will come out with just one or two damp crumbs on it.
• Remove the cake to a wire rack. If you're using apricot jam to decorate, you may want to warm it a little first so that it's easier to spread; rose petal jam is so lusciously soft-set, it shouldn't need any help. Stir a teaspoon of lemon juice into the jam and brush over the top of the cake, then sprinkle with the chopped pistachios and leave the cake to cool in its tin before unspringing and removing to a plate.

APRICOT SNACK CAKE

Steps:

• Set a rack in the middle position of the oven and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-5-inch metal loaf pan with butter.
• On a rimmed baking sheet, spread almonds into a single layer and toast in the oven until golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a plate to cool.
• Meanwhile, in the bowl of a food processor, combine the 6 tablespoons butter, both sugars, the baking powder, baking soda and salt, and pulse until butter is pea-size. Add eggs and vanilla, and pulse until well blended. Add both flours and pulse, scraping down the sides of the bowl, until well incorporated. Add apricots and pulse until fruit is finely chopped and mixture is almost smooth.
• Using a spoon or flexible spatula, stir in toasted almonds. Scrape mixture into prepared pan and smooth top.
• Bake until cake is golden on top and firm in the center, 40 to 45 minutes. Transfer to a rack and cool for 30 minutes. Slide a paring knife or small offset spatula along the sides of the pan to loosen the cake, then turn out cake and cool completely (or until lukewarm).
• Slice the cake and enjoy it drizzled with honey, topped with whipped cream or ice cream, or as is.

ALMOND, PINE NUT, APRICOT CRUMB CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 9-inch cake pan.
• Combine the whole almonds and 1/4 cup pine nuts in a food processor. Pulse the machine until the nuts are finely ground. Transfer the nuts to a medium bowl. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir to combine and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer beat the eggs and the sugar until the mixture becomes thick and pale yellow. Add the butter, and milk. Stir in the almond extract and apricots. Gently stir in the dry ingredients. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan. Sprinkle the top of the cake with sliced almonds and remaining 1/4 cup pine nuts. Bake until the cake is cooked and a toothpick comes out clean, about 50 to 55 minutes. Let the cake cool on a wire rack. Use a knife to loosen the edges. Turn the cake out, slice, and serve.

APRICOT ALMOND CAKE WITH ROSEWATER & CARDAMOM

Steps:

• Equipment: 1 x 20cm/8-inch round springform cake tin.
• Put the dried apricots into a small saucepan, cover them with the cold water, and drop in the cracked cardamom pods with their fragrant seeds. Put on the heat, then bring to the boil and let it bubble for 10 minutes - don't stray too far away from the pan, as by the end of the 10 minutes the pan will be just about out of water and you want to make sure it doesn't actually run dry as the apricots will absorb more water as they cool.
• Take the pan off the heat, place on a cold, heatproof surface and let the apricots cool. Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4/350ºF. Grease the sides of your springform cake tin and line the bottom with baking parchment.
• Remove 5 of the dried apricots and tear each in half, then set aside for the time being. Discard the cardamom husks, leaving the seeds in the pan.
• Pour and scrape out the sticky contents of the pan into the bowl of a food processor. Add the almond meal, polenta, baking powder, superfine sugar and eggs, and give a good long blitz to combine.
• Open the top of the processor, scrape down the batter, add 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and the rosewater, and blitz again, then scrape into the prepared tin and smooth with a spatula. Arrange the apricot halves around the circumference of the tin.
• Bake for 40 minutes, though if the cake is browning up a lot before it's actually ready, you may want to cover loosely with foil at the 30-minute mark. When it's ready, the cake will be coming away from the edges of the tin, the top will feel firm, and a cake tester will come out with just one or two damp crumbs on it.
• Remove the cake to a wire rack. If you're using apricot jam to decorate, you may want to warm it a little first so that it's easier to spread; rose petal jam is so lusciously soft-set, it shouldn't need any help. Stir a teaspoon of lemon juice into the jam and brush over the top of the cake, then sprinkle with the chopped pistachios and leave the cake to cool in its tin before unspringing and removing to a plate.
• STORE NOTE: Store in an airtight container in a cool place for 5-7 days. In hot weather (or if the central heating's on) keep in fridge.
• FREEZE NOTE: The cake can be made ahead and frozen for up to 3 months (though the nuts may soften slightly on defrosting). Wrap the fully cooled cake (still on the springform tin base) tightly in a double layer of clingfilm and a layer of foil. To defrost, unwrap and leave it (still on the tin base) on a plate at room temperature for about 4 hours.

APRICOT, ALMOND & POLENTA CAKE

Steps:

• Butter a 20-23cm round cake tin. If it has a loose bottom, you will need to wrap the outside with foil to prevent any of the caramel from leaking. Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. For the apricots, put the granulated sugar and 75ml water into a saucepan. Heat slowly until the sugar has dissolved. When the sugar has melted, bring to the boil and watch the syrup until it starts to turn to a deep amber colour. Remove from the heat and add the butter. Stir until it has melted. Pour into the tin, then lay the apricots in it, cut-side down.
• For the cake, beat together the butter and sugar until light with an electric whisk. Add the egg a little at a time, then the zest and almond extract. Mix all the dry ingredients together, then fold them gradually into the egg mixture, alternating with the milk. Spoon this over the apricots and bake for 50 mins. To test it's baked, push a skewer into the centre. It should come out clean.
• Leave the cake to cool for 15 mins, then run a knife in-between the cake and the inside of the tin and invert it onto a plate. If any of the apricot halves get left behind in the tin carefully scoop them up - trying to keep their shape intact and not squash them too much - and put them back, cut-side up, on the cake. Leave the cake to cool, or serve warm if you want.
• Heat the apricot jam with 2 tbsp of water. Once the jam has dissolved, push it through a sieve to remove the bits of apricot. Leave it to cool a little - otherwise it overcooks the apricots, which should be perfectly cooked and not collapsing - then paint the jam thickly on the top of the cake. Leave this to set a little, then serve with crème fraîche or cream, if you like.