Friday, June 29, 2012

THB : Almond-Crusted Butter Cake

Our 5th bake over at The Home Bakers (THB), where we are currently baking from "Coffee Cakes" by Lou Seibert Pappas. Emily from Emily's Cooking (Makan2) Foray has chosen Almond-Crusted Butter Cake as our fifth bake. If you have not heard of Emily, drop by her site, she's a super baker, who always bakes 3 types of bakes all in one night when she comes home from work! Now, isn't that super? 


Almond cakes is one of my favourite, so I was really looking forward to this. This cake has a crust with flake almonds all around. It would definitely look nicer if baked in a bundt pan as shown in the book, or it can be baked in two loaf pans. Since I only made half a recipe, I baked this in a loaf pan. Flake almonds are scattered all over the greased pan, I did not scatter them over the bottom, now why didn't I do that, I have no idea! I placed the almonds a little too high in the pan, I realised that before I pour in the batter, but then I thought that the almonds would probably move its' position during baking, obviously I guessed wrong! The almonds stays where they are! 


Look at the almonds all around the cake, almost like protecting the cake, a fortress in itself! Hahaha! The cake rises rather well even though there's no leavening used at all. The eggs must have done a very good job in helping it rise. I find it interesting that powdered sugar is used for this cake. I use about 180gm powdered sugar and still find it a little sweet. 


The fragrance from the almond extract and the almond flakes are really nice. This cake has a rather compact texture with smooth crumbs. Though it is not as moist as most butter cakes, it is not dry at all,  I like it. The only thing that I must really add on are the almond slices! Mine has got very little almonds, I realised that when I cut a slice to eat and wished there were more almonds at the sides!


Overall, this is a nice cake. Great with a cup of coffee and even tea.

Please visit Emily for the recipe and to view the other members bake on this cake, do drop by THB.



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THB is currently baking from Coffee Cakes by Lou Seibert Pappas, if you would like to join in, please hop over to THB for details on how to become a member. Everyone's welcome!




25 comments:

  1. Wow! Love this cake & the way you've arranged those almond flakes! Ya, I think I'm gonna used almond extract too to make this cake. Boy! You're fast, I just made my first scones today. Now I really have to burn the midnight oil to be able to catch up with you all! LOL

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  2. how pretty! i love how the crust is studded with almonds! clever!

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  3. JOyce, yrs look as wonderful too.. Texture of the cake looks soft too:) You really should sprinkle more almonds next time:)

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  4. Joyce, now I see what you mean by the fortress... Some of my almonds were also sticking out and I was busy pushing them back in resulting in some messy edges on my cup cakes ha ha The texture of your cake looks really beautiful!

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  5. Cake texture looks very fine. Will do mine this week end.

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  6. Now I see what you mean when you said your almond coating look like a fortress. LOL! My almond coating stayed on their position very well although my cakes do raised a little.

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  7. Wahhh you are well protected by the fortress!

    Does this cake reminds you of something of biscotti if we sliced up the cake and baked it again? I ate this cake dunked in kopi-O!

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  8. Awww super like your fortress!! LOL
    I love the idea of toasting this cake to tranform into a biscotti. Brilliant emily! But alas! my cake's all gone :(.

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  9. lovely cake... the slices looks very good
    Noel collections

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  10. your fortress cake! i think yours look more great wall of china than mine..hahaha! but you were baking in a larger tin...yeah, it has a compact texture but not dry and yes, me too should have used more almonds but i didnt follow the amount of sliced almonds in the recipe, i just grabbed and coat it all over my muffin pan..eh, actually coating the pan also tiring lah...have to stick them one by one!

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  11. Fantastic and super tempting cake..

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  12. What a lovely cake.. sticking the almonds to the sides.. well, I never really thought of that.... fab

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  13. Now I want to make an almond crusted butter cake!

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  14. Hi Joyce, I sure would love have these with iced coffee.....looks really great.
    And I can imagine the nice almond scent too.
    Anymore left? Ha ha.
    Have a great weekend.
    Lee.

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  15. I find it amazing that you managed to stick all those almonds slices on the sides of the pan! Great looking loaf of cake Joyce, lovely fine crumbs!

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  16. Joyce, I like the idea of sticking those flaked almonds on the side of the baking pan! Yummy cake!

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  17. Eileen@Hundred Eighty DegreesSaturday, June 30, 2012

    Hi Joyce, looks nice with the almond wall built around the cake :)

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  18. What a clever way to decorate the cake with almond slices! The cake looks lovely and delectable.

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  19. wah..bestnya..K & A lucky lor get to eat.

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  20. Hi Joyce, your little fortress around the cake makes the cake so adorable! Sadly mine didn't rise as much as yours, probably due to lack of beating. Yours look really delicious!

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  21. Love your cake. It is a tight crumb and it looks like a soft tight crumb. We love almonds, as well, and although I have not made it, I would like to. My hubby should like this also since it has nuts. I will let you know if I get to do it.

    We are having family from Baltimore where they lost their electricity and it is about a hundred degrees there. So, it should be hectic here but I will keep it in mind. Sorry, I didn't come through. I love baking with the group.

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  22. Joyce, your cake looks so good
    i love the top crack, so sexy LOL

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