Almond Cake with Raspberry Jam

I have eaten this cake far more times than I have baked it.

It is a family recipe, on my husband’s side.  You don’t think much about the food you’re marrying into when you choose a spouse.  Inevitably there will be some things around your husband’s family favs that you love and other’s not so much.  This cake was like a marrying bonus,  and everyone in my husband’s family loves it.

It’s made by my sister-in-law Keers, and it doesn’t always appear at family functions.  If it’s going to show up, it’s probably someones birthday, but even then you can’t be sure of it.  When we see the almond cake my other sister-in-law and I get excited.  This cake and a cup of tea is pretty much all you need for a least a moment of happiness in your day.

I’ve added my own little twist to the cake recipe, made it a triple layer and added raspberry jam.  It’s a winner.  Although, it’s great with just icing too.   And, as cakes go, it’s pretty simple to make.

Almond Cake with Raspberry Jam

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Ingredients

• 1 cup + 2 tbsp softened butter
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 cup sour cream
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/2 tsp almond extract
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup ground almonds
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

1. Begin by creaming together the butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer.
2. Next, add in the wet ingredients -the sour cream, eggs, almond and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
3. In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients -the flour, almonds, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
4. Add dry ingredients into wet ingredients, and stir until just combined, taking care not to over mix.
5. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
6. Divide the batter between three 8-inch cake pans that have been buttered or sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
7. Bake for about 30 min, until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool before icing.

I used my favourite buttercream icing, but added a little almond extract to it.  I divided the icing into three bowls and added red food colouring to create three shades of pink icing.  I spread each layer with a thin layer of raspberry jam, and then the icing, from darkest colour to lightest.  It turned out so pretty, and simple.

We enjoyed the cake for a joint celebration of Mother’s Day and my little sisters birthday over the weekend -see I’m hijacking for my family functions too now.  And now, writing this post, I want all the leftovers.

Julia Child said “a party without cake is just a meeting”.  This cake ensures it’s no meeting!  With a yummy cake like this, life really is a party!