Sponge Cake With Crunchy Almond Topping Recipes

ALMOND SPONGE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place almonds in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet; toast until golden, about 10 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack, and let almonds cool.
• Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees. Place the cooled almonds and the cornstarch in bowl of a food processor. Process until finely ground, about 30 seconds. Set aside.
• Butter two 6-inch-round layer-cake pans. Line pans with parchment paper, and butter again. Flour pans, and set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, mix together egg yolks and vanilla. With mixer on high speed, gradually add 1/4 cup sugar. Beat until pale, thick, and light, about 5 minutes. Transfer egg-yolk mixture to a large bowl; set aside. Wash and dry mixer bowl and attachment.
• Place egg whites and salt in the clean mixer bowl. Beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Increase the speed to high, and gradually add the remaining sugar. Beat until stiff and glossy, about 4 minutes.
• Fold the egg-white mixture into the egg-yolk mixture. In three additions, fold the reserved ground-almond mixture into this new mixture. Divide the batter between the two prepared pans, and smooth the tops with an offset spatula.
• Bake cakes until a cake tester inserted into the middle comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer pans to a wire rack to cool, about 25 minutes. Turn out cakes, and cover with plastic wrap until ready to use.

BEST EVER ALMOND CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans (with high sides) or three 8-inch round cake pans (with high sides), lining the bottoms with parchment paper rounds for easy release.
• In the bowl of your stand mixer (or in a large bowl using a hand mixer) whip the butter on medium high speed until very smooth. Add the sugar and mix on high speed until fluffy and creamy. The sugar will start to dissolve into the butter a little bit during this creaming process, so you should be able to feel the grains of sugar getting smaller.
• Add the eggs and egg yolks one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl regularly at this stage to make sure everything is mixed well.
• Mix in the oil and almond extract on low speed.
• Measure the buttermilk into a liquid measuring cup and and set aside.
• Measure and sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a separate bowl and combine with a wire whisk.
• Add the dry ingredients and the buttermilk alternatively while the mixer is running on low speed. Add 1/3 of the dry ingredients, half the buttermilk, another 1/3 of the dry ingredients, the other half of the milk, and the remaining dry ingredients.
• Turn the speed of the mixer to medium-low and mix until the batter is smooth (about one minute).
• Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans and bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for about 29-34 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of one of the cakes comes out clean.
• Cool the cakes in the pans for about 5-7 minutes and then turn them out onto cooling racks to cool completely.
• Once the cakes are cool, store them wrapped in plastic wrap in the fridge until ready to frost. They should be refrigerated for at least 1 hour before frosting.
• While the cakes cool, heat the milk in a small saucepan on the stove over medium-low heat. Add the flour slowly, whisking constantly to combine.
• Continue to cook this mixture, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens and no lumps remain.
• Spread out the thickened milk and flour mixture onto a dinner plate to cool completely.
• When the mixture is cool, press it through a sieve or strainer to remove any tiny lumps that may remain.
• Add it to a large bowl with a hand mixer, or to the bowl of your stand mixer, and mix on medium-high speed until smooth.
• Add the butter and mix on medium-high speed until the mixture is very smooth.
• Add the powdered sugar about 1/2 cup at a time, along with the salt and the almond extract.
• Continue to mix on medium-high until the frosting is extra smooth and creamy.
• Level the top of the cakes with a serrated bread knife or a cake leveler (if you have one). Place one of the cakes on a plate or cake stand and place a dollop of frosting on top.
• Spread out the frosting to the edges of the cake, place the next layer on top and then frost the top and sides of the cake until everything is smooth.
• Use Life Love and Sugar's tutorial on how to get straight edges when frosting layer cakes with buttercream (find the tutorial HERE), or simply frost it in a rustic pattern as you wish.
• Arrange the fruit pieces, cookies, and almonds on top as you wish.
• Refrigerate until ready to serve.

ALMOND-TOPPED MINCE PIES

Steps:

• Put the flour in a large bowl with 1/4 tsp salt. Add the butter and rub it in with your fingertips until the mix looks like fine crumbs.
• Stir in the sugar, then slowly pour in the egg, stirring with a cutlery knife as you go to avoid any overly wet or dry patches. Scrunch to a dough with your hands, then knead briefly until smooth. Alternatively, pulse together the butter, flour and salt in a processor, then add the sugar and egg. Shape into 2 discs, wrap in cling film and chill for 30 mins (if you have time).
• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Mix the prunes and Armagnac into the mincemeat and set aside. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured work surface until 3mm thick, cut into circles with a 7.5cm or 8cm round plain cutter and gently press into 2 x 12-hole shallow, non-stick bun tins.
• For the topping, beat together the butter and sugar with a wooden spoon, then add the flour, ground almonds, eggs, almond extract and a pinch of salt, and beat until smooth.
• Spoon the mincemeat into the tin (about 1 dessertspoon into each). Spoon over the topping, then smooth it to the edges of the pastry with a palette knife. Scatter over the flaked almonds. Can now be frozen for up to 1 month.
• Bake for 25 mins from room temperature (or 30 mins from frozen) until the pies are golden, risen and the pastry feels firm at the sides. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 mins before transferring to a cooling rack. Dust with icing sugar to serve. Can be stored in an airtight tin for up to 3 days once cold.

ALMOND SPONGE CAKE - (SPAIN-BIZCOCHO DE ALMENDRAS)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Grind almonds in electric blender or pound in mortar to fine paste. Beat three whole eggs and three yolks with sugar and salt until thick and light yellow.
• Fold in three egg whites beaten to stiff peak. Gradually sift in flour mixed with ground almonds.
• Fold no more than necessary to make an evenly blended mixture. Pour into 9-inch loaf pan either lined with wax paper or lightly buttered and sprinkled with flour.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes in 375F oven or until toothpick inserted in middle of cake comes out clean.
• Invert cake over rack or wax paper sprinkled with powdered sugar.
• If you have used wax paper, cake will come out instantly; wait until it cools to remove the paper on which it baked. If you have not used wax paper, leave cake inverted in pan until cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar just before serving.
• Makes one 9-inch loaf cake.

ALMOND SPONGE CAKE FILLED WITH ALMOND CREAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Place the sliced almonds on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for about 5-7 minutes or until lightly browned and fragrant. Remove from oven and let cool.
• Once completely cooled, place the nuts in a small food processor, along with 1 tablespoon of the cake flour, and process until finely ground.
• Increase the oven temperature to 450°F.
• Grease a 17 inch x 12 inch jelly roll pan, line with parchment, and then grease and flour the parchment paper. Set aside.
• While eggs are still cold separate two of the eggs, placing the yolks in one large mixing bowl and the whites in another bowl.
• To the two yolks, add the additional yolk, and the two remaining eggs.
• Cover the two bowls with plastic wrap and allow the eggs to come to room temperature before using.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl whisk together the remaining 2 tablespoons of cake flour and the ground almonds. Set aside.
• Add 1/2 cup sugar to the yolk mixture and beat on high speed for five minutes, or until pale, thick and fluffy. At this point beat in the vanilla extract.
• Sift half the flour mixture over the egg yolk mixture and fold in gently with a rubber spatula, just until the flour is incorporated. Sift the remaining flour mixture over the batter and fold together.
• In a large clean mixing bowl, beat the egg whites until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue beating until soft peaks form.
• Beat in one tablespoon sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.
• Gently fold a little of the whites into the batter to lighten it, and then fold in the rest of the whites. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading the cake batter with an offset spatula.
• Bake for 7 minutes or until golden brown.
• Immediately upon removing the cake from the oven invert the sponge cake onto a clean dish towel that has been sprinkled with icing sugar.
• Carefully remove the parchment paper, sprinkle the cake lightly icing sugar, and roll up the sponge, with the towel, while it is still hot and pliable.
• Place on a wire rack to cool.
• To make the cream filling place the whipping cream, vanilla extract, and sugar in a large bowl and stir to combine.
• Cover and chill the bowl and beaters in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
• When chilled, beat the mixture until stiff peaks form.
• Fold in 1/3 cup toasted ground almonds.
• When ready to fill, unroll the sponge, spread with the filling, and reroll.
• Transfer to a serving platter, cover, and chill in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight.
• Just before serving, dust with icing sugar.

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.