Oma's Almond Cake

I have posted some delicious food so far but this recipe takes the cake.... wow I am witty. My Oma (grandmother in German) was the queen of making delicious cakes though, like me, she was not a huge fan of baking. No matter her personal distain for flour, eggs, and ovens, she worked hard to produce a product that keep her little devil grandchild’s belly full (quite a task). Of all her cakes this is my favorite and I have made it several times since she has passed. It is very Euro.. not super sweet like a lot of American desserts but rich and decadent nonetheless. If you have got some time and don’t mind being at frustration station give it a try.

OMA'S ALMOND CAKE

*note: you will need a spring-form cake pan!

INGREDIENTS

for dough:

• 300g (2/3 lb.) all-purpose flour
• 150g (1/3 lb.) sugar
• 150g (1/3 lb.) unsalted butter, COLD
  
• pinch of salt
  

for filling:

• 500g (1.1 lb.) almonds
• 500g (1.1 lb) sugar
• 1 1/2 lemon, zest and juice
• a handful of sliced almonds to decorate the top.
• 1 egg yolk, beaten
• whipped cream for serving
  

DIRECTIONS

• pre-heat oven to 180 C (360 F).
  
• start the dough by creating making a well of flour and adding the egg to the middle.
  
• then add the cold butter, sliced on top.
• combine and knead the dough until you can make a ball.
• wrap and put into the fridge for 30 min.
• during this time make the filling... start by pulsing the almonds in a food processor until a rough sand mixture.
  
• put in a mixing bowl with the lemon zest and juice.. as well as the sugar. It should look like wet sand.
  
• when the dough is ready roll it out and press a thin layer to the bottom of the cake pan (about 1/3 of the dough)...
  
• then continue to use another 1/3 of the dough to construct the sides of the cake. Make sure there is no gap between the bottom and sides (otherwise the filling will ooze out)!
• Pour the filling into the pan..
• Use remaining dough to make the top.. make sure there are no gaps between the top and sides.
• Brush the egg yolk over the top.
• Sprinkle some almonds over the top.
  
• It will take about an hour to bake but starting checking after 30 min and remove when golden. Let it cool and serve with cream.
  
• YOU ARE AT THE END!! WOOP! Bon Appetit!