Almond Crunch Pound Cake

This is a dense, rich cake with a candy-like topping that is easy to make. It freezes really well so you can have a great dessert on hand. Wrap well and store at room temperature up to 2 days or freeze up to 1 month. Crisp it in the oven briefly at 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) for that just-baked taste. Serve with whipped cream and raspberries.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 48 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 8 mins
• Calories: 363 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup white sugar
• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
• ⅓ cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• ¼ cup unsalted butter
• ½ cup slivered almonds
• 4 eggs, at room temperature
• ⅓ cup almond paste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9-inch springform pan.

Step 2

Combine slivered almonds, 1/3 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup butter, and milk in a small saucepan over low heat; cook and stir until butter is melted and mixture is smooth, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove topping from heat.

Step 3

Combine 1 1/2 cup flour, cream of tartar, and salt in a bowl.

Step 4

Beat 3/4 cup softened butter and almond paste in a large bowl using an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add 1 cup white sugar and continue beating until mixture is light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in eggs one at a time, beating 1 minute after each addition; stir in lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract. Add flour mixture and beat until batter is just mixed, about 1 minute more; pour into the prepared pan and smooth the top.

Step 5

Sprinkle remaining 1 tablespoon flour evenly over batter. Spoon the topping over the flour layer.

Step 6

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.