This is the cake for almond lovers! This single-layer almond cake is moist and tender and packed with almond flavor from a combination of almond paste, almond extract, and sliced almonds.
This cake can be served anytime of day. It’s delicious plain alongside a cup of coffee or tea, or add a little something extra by serving each slice with berries and whipped cream. Prefer a bite-sized almond treat? Try our almond croissant bites.
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What I love about this recipe
Flavor: Lots of sweet and buttery almond flavor in every bite!
Ease: This cake batter comes together in a food processor in minutes. And since this cake doesn’t have any frosting it’s easier than most cake recipes.
Texture: This cake has a moist crumb and manages to be both dense and light.
Versatility: This cake can be served for breakfast, snack, or dessert. Serve it plain or top with whipped cream and berries.
Ingredients needed
Almond paste: You’ll need 4 ounces of almond paste. See more on this ingredient below.
Almond extract: For extra almond flavor.
Granulated sugar: For sweetening the cake batter and topping the cake.
Butter: One stick/half cup of unsalted butter.
Eggs: Three large eggs for binding and texture.
Dry ingredients: A combination of all purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
Sliced almonds: For the sugared almond topping.
Recipe overview
*Full recipe below in recipe card*
This cake batter is assembled in the food processor. It comes together in minutes! Here’s how to make it:
- Almond paste and sugar are pulsed in a food processor until finely ground.
- Add softened butter and process until combined.
- Add eggs and almond extract and process until combined.
- Sprinkle in flour, baking powder and salt. Give it a whirl until combined.
Pour the batter into a greased and lined 8-inch cake pan. Sprinkle sliced almonds and sugar over the top and bake.
Ingredient overview: almond paste
Almond paste is a mixture of ground almonds and sugar or sugar syrup. You can purchase it in tubes or cans in the baking aisle of well-stocked grocery stores. It should be soft, moist, and easy to break apart. The almond paste gets processed into the cake batter and adds texture and a sweet almond flavor to every bite of this cake. I do not recommend trying to substitute the almond paste with another ingredient.
Leftover almond paste? Make a batch of Almond Cherry Bars OR tightly wrap it and freeze it for up to 6 months.
Optional topping
This cake is absolutely delicious as-is. If you want to add a little something extra it pairs wonderfully with whipped cream and berries.
To serve: Warm berry jam to thin it out. Spoon some jam and whipped cream over the top of each slice of cake and top with fresh berries.
Recipe
Almond Cake
Ingredients
Cake:
- 4 ounces almond paste
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3 large eggs
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Topping:
- ½ cup sliced almonds
- 1-2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- optional toppings (to serve): powdered sugar, whipped cream, fresh berries
Instructions
Cake:
- Preheat oven to 350°F with a rack in the middle of the oven. Line the bottom of an 8-inch round cake pan with parchment paper and grease the pan.
- Crumble almond paste into food processor bowl. Add granulated sugar and pulse until almond paste is finely ground. Add butter and process until smooth (it will turn into a ball; just keep processing until it smooths out). Add eggs and almond extract and process until combined, occasionally stopping the processor and scraping sides and bottom of bowl. Sprinkle in flour, baking powder, and salt, and process until blended.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top. Tap the pan on the countertop a few times to remove air bubbles. Top the cake batter with sliced almonds and 1-2 tablespoons sugar (I like to add half the almonds, sprinkle over half the sugar, then repeat with remaining almonds and sugar).
- Bake for 23-26 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Place the pan on a wire rack. Cool for 30 minutes, then carefully remove it from the pan and place the cake back on the rack to cool. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature. If desired, you can dust the cake with powdered sugar or serve with the toppings mentioned below.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Information is an estimate based on third-party calculations and may vary based on products used and serving sizes.
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!Recipe adapted from Good Housekeeping.
Susan says
Ahhhhhhhh, I don’t have almond paste. Is there any way to make it using more almond extract as a substitution somehow? I don’t have any of the other substitutions either. Do you think I should just plan to make this on another day when I actually have almond paste? I don’t want to wait, but I can. lol
Allison says
Hi, Susan. For this recipe you definitely need almond paste. You can try this almond cake recipe and just leave out the cranberries. Enjoy!
Sharon says
Hi, this recipe looks lovely. What type of shelf life does it have? Would it still be nice a few days later?
Thank you!
Allison says
Hi, Sharon. This cake should keep well at room temperature for up to 3 days. I do notice that the almonds soften a bit over time, from the moisture in the cake. You can also freeze slices for up to 3 months. Enjoy!
Ellen says
Could I use a mixer. I don’t have a food processor
Allison says
Hi, Ellen. One of my readers left this comment, if you want to try it: “I made this without a food processor by breaking down the paste and rubbing it into the sugar with my hands. It was divine! Super moist and perfectly not-too-sweet. Highly recommend this recipe.”
Kim says
I made this last night and it turned out very well. Because of gluten sensitivity I used Measure for Measure gf flour(only substitution made). The texture was very light and silky. The flavor was great. Also, this cake was so easy to make with the food processor. My husband enjoyed the cake very much, too. I shall be making this delicious(and easy) recipe often. Thank you for the great recipe!
Allison Mattina says
You’re welcome, Kim. Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂
Sabrina Riter says
Hubby made this recipe for a casual dinner party we hosted, it was absolutely delicious!! He served it with whipped cream and fresh jumbo blueberries. This will definitely be a great addition to our dinner party dessert rotation. Thank you for sharing!
Allison Mattina says
You’re welcome! Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂