Fresh cherry and almond cake. Picture / Babiche Martens.
Fresh cherry and almond cake. Picture / Babiche Martens.
FRESH CHERRY AND ALMOND CAKE Serves 8-10
• 110g butter, at room temperature • ¾ cup sugar • 3 eggs • 1 tsp vanilla • ¼ tsp almond essence • 1 cup ground almonds • ¾ cup flour • 1 tsp baking powder • 1 cup fresh cherries, halved, stones removed
Topping • ½ cup slivered almonds • 2 Tbsp sugar •1 cup cherries • 1 Tbsp icing sugar
1. Set the oven to 180C. Line the base of a 20cm tin with baking paper and grease the sides.
2. Place the butter and sugar in a bowl and beat until light and creamy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, add the vanilla and almond essences. Fold through the ground almonds, flour and baking powder. Lastly, fold through the cherries then pour into your lined tin.
3. In a small bowl mix the slivered almonds and sugar. Sprinkle around the outside of the cake. Place cake in the centre of the oven for 45 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. Remove from the oven and leave in the tin to cool.
4. Serve on a plate, piled high with cherries and dusted generously with icing sugar. A bowl of lightly whipped cream is the perfect accompaniment.
