Cherry-Almond Cake
Deborah Madison prefers Royal Ann cherries in this moist cake. It keeps well but is best a little warm from the oven. The cherries will sink a little; if you like, you can add 2 additional tablespoons of flour to the batter to keep them afloat.
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole blanched almonds
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. sea salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar, plus 1 tsp. for sprinkling
- 3 eggs, at room temperature
- 1/4 tsp. almond extract
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 lb. fresh cherries, pitted
- Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
Directions
Preheat oven to 350F. Butter a 9-inch springform pan and line bottom with parchment. Flour sides.
In a food processor, coarsely chop almonds. Transfer 1/4 cup almonds to a bowl and reserve. Add flour, baking powder and salt to food processor. Process until remaining almonds are finely ground. Transfer to a bowl.
In a food processor, cream butter with 3/4 cup granulated sugar. Add eggs one at a time, blending each one fully. Add almond and vanilla extracts.
Add half of flour mixture and pulse to blend. Add remaining flour mixture. Pulse until smooth. Scrape into prepared pan and place cherries on top in a single layer.
Mix reserved almonds with 1 teaspoon granulated sugar and sprinkle around edge of cake. Bake until a tester inserted in center comes out clean, about 45 minutes.
Let cool in pan for 10 minutes. Unmold and let cool completely on a wire rack. Transfer to a cake plate. Dust edge with confectioners' sugar.
In a food processor, coarsely chop almonds. Transfer 1/4 cup almonds to a bowl and reserve. Add flour, baking powder and salt to food processor. Process until remaining almonds are finely ground. Transfer to a bowl.
In a food processor, cream butter with 3/4 cup granulated sugar. Add eggs one at a time, blending each one fully. Add almond and vanilla extracts.
Add half of flour mixture and pulse to blend. Add remaining flour mixture. Pulse until smooth. Scrape into prepared pan and place cherries on top in a single layer.
Mix reserved almonds with 1 teaspoon granulated sugar and sprinkle around edge of cake. Bake until a tester inserted in center comes out clean, about 45 minutes.
Let cool in pan for 10 minutes. Unmold and let cool completely on a wire rack. Transfer to a cake plate. Dust edge with confectioners' sugar.
Serves 8.