Lemon Almond Cake

Light and fluffy almond cake gets a mesmerizing swirl of Lemon Curd and a border of sliced almonds in this single-layer snack cake. The addition of almond extract and almond flour lends a toasted nutty flavor that beautifully complements the cake’s brightness.

Lemon Almond Cake
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Lemon Almond Cake

Makes 1 (9-inch) cake

Ingredients

  • ½ cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (110 grams) firmly packed light brown sugar
  • ½ cup (120 grams) crème fraîche, room temperature
  • ½ cup (120 grams) heavy whipping cream, room temperature
  • cup (76 grams) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 large egg (50 grams), room temperature
  • 1 large egg yolk (19 grams), room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons (12 grams) packed lemon zest
  • 2 teaspoons (8 grams) vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon (4 grams) almond extract
  • cups (188 grams) all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup (72 grams) natural super-fine almond flour
  • 2 teaspoons (10 grams) baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon (3 grams) kosher salt
  • ¾ cup (200 grams) Lemon Curd (recipe follows)
  • cup (26 grams) sliced almonds
  • Garnish: confectioners’ sugar

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325°F (170°C).
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat granulated sugar, brown sugar, crème fraîche, cream, melted butter, egg, egg yolk, lemon zest, and extracts at medium speed until well combined, about 2 minutes, stopping to scrape sides of bowl.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together flours, baking powder, and salt. With mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture to sugar mixture, beating just until combined and stopping to scrape sides of bowl.
  • Spray a 9-inch springform pan with baking spray with flour. Line bottom of pan with parchment paper. Reserve ¾ cup batter. Spoon remaining batter into prepared pan, spreading into an even layer with a small offset spatula. Spoon Lemon Curd, 1 tablespoon (16 grams) at a time, onto batter in pan. Spoon reserved batter between curd dollops. Using the tip of a sharp knife, swirl curd into batter, being careful not to overmix.
  • Bake until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 40 to 50 minutes. Sprinkle edges with almonds. Let cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully remove sides of pan; let cake cool completely on pan base on wire rack. Remove pan base, and discard parchment. Just before serving, garnish with confectioners’ sugar, if desired.
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Lemon Curd

Makes 1¼ cups
Tangy, creamy, and sweet, lemon curd acts as the perfect pairing for practically any flavor profile. Whether used as a spread for scones and biscuits or incorporated into your bakes, lemon curd is the ultimate brightening agent in almost any recipe.

Ingredients

  • cup plus 1 tablespoon (79 grams) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs (100 grams), room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons (4 grams) packed lemon zest
  • 1 teaspoon (3 grams) cornstarch
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ cup (120 grams) fresh lemon juice
  • cup (76 grams) unsalted butter, cubed

Instructions

  • In a medium saucepan, whisk together sugar, eggs, lemon zest, cornstarch, and salt until smooth. Add lemon juice, whisking until smooth. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is bubbling, thickened, holds shape of whisk, and registers 170°F (76°C) on an instant-read thermometer, about 7 minutes.
  • Strain mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a medium heatproof bowl. Add butter, 1 cube at a time, stirring until combined and mixture is smooth after each addition. Cover with a piece of plastic wrap, pressing wrap directly onto surface of curd to prevent a skin from forming. Let cool completely. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

 

*This recipe originally ran in Bake from Scratch January/February 2022. 

The post Lemon Almond Cake first appeared on Bake from Scratch.