Thursday, June 2, 2016

Scandinavian Almond Cake


There are many things that bring me happiness but there are several things that I love.  My family, friendships, cooking and baking, gardening, and, my hairdresser.

Where would be be without the fountain of all knowledge and wisdom, our hairdresser?  Not only does mine enjoying cooking, she is also training to be a Yoga instructor which is no easy feat. One day, while she was cutting my hair, she brought up this cake that one of her clients had brought for her and how delicious it was. She bought the special pan that's used to bake it so she could make it herself.  I was hooked by her description and had to buy the inexpensive Rehrucken Loaf Cake Pan and try it myself.


Toasted almonds are first scattered on the bottom of the pan and the batter spooned on top and then baked. This is my kind of cake! I could have eaten the whole thing plain, but we were having some dinner guests so I decided to slice and fill it with whipped cream. The raspberries were wonderful with it, but it would also make a wonderful base for a strawberry 'shortcake' style dessert too.  The end pieces are particular crunchy and delightful and I've read that, traditionally they are saved for the baker, so I ate them myself :)


Don't lose hope if you don't have a cake pan like this, or time to buy and have one sent to you, you could use a regular full-size loaf pan.  It won't be quite as pretty but it will still taste delicious.  You may need to add a few extra minutes of baking time since the filling will be deeper in a loaf pan.  

Shop for my Scandinavian Loaf Pan HERE!  (Affiliate Link)

Scandinavian Almond Cake

This recipe was shared by my hairdresser but you can Google Scandinavian Almond Cake for similar recipes. 

Printable Recipe

1 ¼ cup granulated sugar
1 egg
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 teaspoon almond extract
2/3 cup heavy cream (regular milk works well too!)
1-1/4 cup cake flour (I used all-purpose flour)
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
4 ounces (1 stick) melted butter or margarine
1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds (optional)
Garnish with sliced almonds, powdered sugar, fresh berries or puree, or whipped cream. You may also slice the cake horizontally through the center and fill the cake with any of these garnishes. 

Toast almonds on a small baking sheet in a 350F oven for approximately 5-7 minutes, watching carefully so they don't burn.

Beat together sugar, egg, extract and heavy cream. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt and add to mixture. Fold in melted butter and blend until smooth.

Prepare the pan by spraying with non-stick baking spray such as Bakers Joy.

Place toasted sliced almonds in bottom of prepared pan and pour in batter.

Bake at 350F for about 40 minutes. A toothpick inserted in the middle should come out clean and the cake should be brown around the edges.

Cool cake in pan for 30 minutes and then place a serving plate on top of the cake pan and invert to release the cake.

53 comments:

  1. This is such a nice cake and I love the shape of it...I love all things with almond...and I can only imagine the lovely almond fragrant in this cake. Thanks for the recipe Susan.
    Hope you are enjoying your week...by the way, beautiful steel pieces...

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    1. Thank you, Juliana! The cake is so delicious and fragrant as well. Have a lovely weekend!

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  2. Look at that perfectly smooth and soft texture! I am in love with this beautiful almond cake, Susan.
    You too have a fun and happy June!
    Angie

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    1. The texture was wonderful, Angie! Thank you and have a wonderful weekend and summer :)

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  3. I am happy to report I have that pan Nana!!Yay yay yay.
    And I love my hairdresser.I popped another thank you card to her in the mail Friday.She is such a good person.
    She is not a baker though..but a gardener so we chat gardens.
    For Christmas..I am planning on filling a large linen stocking w/ all gardening things in it:)
    That's how much I like her.
    Like you like yours.

    That garden accoutrements place..Mon Dieu! Did you buy anything?:)

    What kind of question is that right?
    Glad you liked the envelopes:)
    Pinning le cake..I would make it now but..

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    1. I'm so glad you have the pan. I think I remember a post in which you used it too :) I bought two things from Steel Heart. One was a medium-sized plant support for one of my Arabella clematis and the other a pretty steel basket that I am using for a container filled with flowers. Thank you, again for the packets ♥

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  4. Sounds like a great cake and I love the pan, sorta like a jelly roll:@) Happy June!

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    1. Thank you, Lynn! I'm sure it could be made using a small jelly roll pan too :)

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  5. I love the looks of that store! I wold spend way too much, I'm sure. Better off buying the cake pan, because it is way too cute. And that cake looks way too good!

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    1. A first-timer is in real trouble when they visit that store, Abbe :) I have quite a few of their pieces that I started collecting about 10 year ago. The cake is great and so simple.

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  6. I inherited that pan from my dear Hungarian friend. It got in our move--somehow jumping into a Goodwill box I think. It has been replaced! This sounds lovely. I so agree re your hair stylist. Mine keeps me abreast of most everything going on in the community. I must seek out Harvard, Illinois and that garden shop.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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    1. I think your dinner group would love it, Bonnie! So many wonderful ways to serve it too. Harvard would be a great day trip and you would be close to Lake Geneva for some additional fun shopping :)

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  7. absolutely lovely cake dear Susan !! Just beautiful!

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  8. Well worth buying a new pan, Susan. This is a WOW kind of cake and looks yummy.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. It does make a lovely impression and it's delicious. Thank you, Amalia! xo

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  9. The cake looks scrumptious. Love the garden center too. Looks like loads of fun!

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    1. That's a wonderful compliment coming from you, El! The garden supply store is dangerous. Almost like going to a great kitchen supply store :)

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  10. What an interesting cake! So so true about our hairdressers! When I moved to Omaha 10 years ago, the hardest thing besides leaving dear friends and the only town I'd ever know, was leaving my hairdresser of 27 years.

    What a great garden city and how great of your husband to take you.

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    1. Oh, that must have been so hard, Julie. 27 years is a long friendship. He is a sweetheart to take me there. Truth be told it's only 30 minutes farther away that a golf course we like to play so he gets his reward too :)

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  11. I think this cake would be nice for the 4th of July with strawberries and blueberries.

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    1. That's a great idea, Karen! It's hard to believe that the 4th of July is only a month away after our chilly spring.

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  12. What a delicious cake Susan, can't wait to try,it seems so moist and fragrant, have a nice weekend, a warm hug, xo

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    1. The flavor is wonderful, Chiara, and I'm sure it would work in any small-sized cake pan. Have a lovely week! Warm hugs xo

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  13. That cake looks so good! And the pan turns out a beautiful product! And oh my goodness...I would be wanting everything at Steel Heart!

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    1. Suzy, it's like walking into a candy store - LOL. You'd love it - and the cake too :)

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  14. Lovely cake and great shop! I laughed out loud when you mentioned that you ate the ends - you go girl!

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    1. You would love the garden supply store too, Tricia! A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do :) The ends were great! Thank you!

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  15. Hi Susan, that is one gorgeous looking cake, love how you decorated the cake with your own touches. How sweet of your husband to take you to that wonderful garden store, that is my kind of shopping.

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    1. Thank you, Cheri! Everyone loved it. It's nice when your husband supports your garden and cooking passion ;)

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  16. Happy June Susan! The cake sounds delicious and simple ;o) That garden store looks very inviting. If only I lived closer!

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    1. It is a simple cake and those are the kind I love. If I only lived closer to Aurora, NY too ;)

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  17. oooh, I love almond cake and I love that 'sliced' cake tin. I've baked bread in a tin like that but never cake, must give it a go!

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    1. Thank you, Dom! It's so good, especially with the added toasted almonds on top and fresh fruit. Hope you give it a try!

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  18. That is a divine looking cake, Susan. So elegant and I had to smile that you ate the ends. Always the best part!
    Would have loved to visit the garden store with you....so many nifty things! What fun!
    Happy June to you too!

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    1. Ha-ha :) The ends were great! Slightly crunchy and delicious. Thank you, Barbara!

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  19. I would just LOVE to bite into your beautiful cake! I can imagine it's sweet, creamy flavor! I also need to get to that garden decor center on one of my trips to the Midwest!!!

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    1. You would love the cake and the garden décor store, Roz! Thank you :)

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  20. Susan, your cake looks lovely. Anything almond is tops in my kitchen. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. If you love almond, you'd love this cake, Susan! Thanks so much!

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  21. What a beautiful, unusual cake mold! I love both the cake and the shape!

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    1. Thank you, Katerina! I also liked that it is unusual ;)

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  22. What a beautiful looking cake, Susan, and it sounds like the type I would love and I love almonds. I also love big garden stores like the one you showed that have many gardening accessories. We have been very busy trying to find the right plants that will grow in our erratic climate and deer filled yards. This year I'm waging a battle with bunnies eating my annuals.

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    1. Thank you, Pat! I can't wait to make it again. I have the same battle with bunnies and deer here too :)

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  23. I love this cake and the special cake pan. I can see making a wonderful strawberry shortcake. Great garden store! Sorry I have been missing lately. Summer cold has laid me low.

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    1. There is nothing worse than a summer cold! Thanks for visiting, Penny!

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  24. Beautiful cake that I bet tastes amazing! It reminds me of Summer with all it's freshness!

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    1. Whatever berries are in season would be perfect for this cake, Pamela! Thank you :)

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  25. Thank you very much, Marilyn! Yes, I am on Bloglovin. The icon is near the top on the right side above ^

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  26. Susan, I love, love "neutral" cakes like classic pound cakes or angel food cakes that can be dressed up lots of ways. This almond cake is right up my alley and it sounds so delicious. Can't wait to try it soon with all the beautiful seasonal berries around. I may have to get me one of those baking pans too :0) Gorgeous recipe!

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  27. Replies
    1. You found it :) I thought you'd enjoy seeing it again ♥ So easy and delicious. We served it with black raspberry ice cream along with extra whipped cream. Oh my, it was good!

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