Festive Dessert:: Italian Almond Cake

Earlier this week, I shared my recipe for meatless lasagna, my ultimate Italian comfort food! If you're entertaining family and friends over the next few weeks, the lasagna would be a wonderful dish to serve. Of course, all meals are made even more complete with a fantastic dessert. Pair the lasagna with almond cake. You'll love this recipe for Italian Almond Cake by Alisa Barry.Grazie Mille Alisa, molto buono! xx

Italian Almond Cake

You will need:- 7 oz. almond paste- 2/3 cup sugar- 1/2 cup almond meal- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature- 1 1⁄2 tsp. vanilla- 6 eggs- ¾ cup all purpose flour- 2 teaspoons baking powder- ¼ tsp. saltNote: This is one of my favorite (and so easy!) dessert recipes adapted from Chez Panisse Desserts cookbook. I like to add locally milled almond meal for flavor and texture, but you can substitute with all purpose flavor if not available. You can also make it gluten free by using more almond meal instead of flour. It will be more dense, but nonetheless delicious! The beauty of this dessert is that it can be made a day ahead of time, the flavor actually improves as it sits.

To prepare:Preheat oven to 325 degreesIn a food processor, blend the almond paste, sugar and almond meal until finely ground. Add the butter and vanilla . Process the ingredients until creamed. Add the eggs one at a time with the processing running until the batter is smooth. Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to the food processor and mix just until combined .Pour the batter into buttered and floured 8 inch spring form pan.Bake at 325 degrees for one hour or until toothpick is dry when inserted. Remove from the oven to cool on a rack.Serve with warm or at room temperature.

Photo Credit: John McDonald