A simple, economical, but delicious jam almond cake recipe. It’s based on a traditional Brighton sandwich cake and is reminiscent of an easy-to-make Bakewell tart. Two layers of almond flavoured dough hold a fruity burst of jam in the middle. Top with whole almonds, which roast to perfection as the cake bakes.
Sometimes the old ones are the best ones. I often find that the older more traditional everyday cakes that our grandmothers and theirs used to bake are just as delicious as all our fancy pants cakes with their buttercream and ganaches.
When I first made this jam almond cake, I’d borrowed another cookbook from our local library. This was Miranda Gore Browne’s Bake Me a Cake as Fast as You Can. It has lots of recipes for easy-to-bake cakes, which all sound quite delicious. The one that caught my eye, however, was Brighton Cake.
It’s a very old fashioned and simple cake where you rub the butter into the flour rather than creaming it. A bit of nostalgia crept in when I saw it along with a burning need to use up some very old jars of jam.
Jam Almond Cake
My version of a Brighton sandwich cake, is a little different to Miranda’s. This was back in the day when Tin and Thyme was Chocolate Log Blog and recipes had to contain chocolate. After so many years baking with chocolate, I knew that white chocolate works well in many bakes. It has a particular affinity with fruit too. You will thus find white chocolate in this, otherwise, very simple bake.
Despite the name, there are no ground almonds in this cake. It’s made with flour. Initially I made it with half wholemeal and half plain. But I now make it with one hundred percent wholemeal spelt flour. which works just as well. It has the added bonus of providing various vitamins and minerals as well as plenty of fibre.
I upped the quantities of the original recipe to try and make a twenty centimetre (eight inch) round cake.
As well as adding white chocolate to the mix, I occasionally add a teaspoon of maca powder. This is mostly to kid myself that I’m making a healthy cake, but it’s absolutely not necessary. So don’t worry, I haven’t listed it as an ingredient in the recipe below.
The first time I made this jam almond cake, I used a small jar of homemade fig and pomegranate jam. It was delicious. Raspberry jam is the one most often used in a Brighton sandwich cake, but I find plum works particularly well. As plums are in the same family as almonds, they have an affinity. However, use whatever jam you fancy or have to hand. It will still give a fruity burst of flavour and sweetness.
Top Tip
Less is more when it comes to almond extract. I use slightly less than a teaspoon. I’m glad I was cautious initially though as Miranda’s recipe stated two teaspoons for a smaller quantity of mix than I used. I fear the cake might be too overpowering to enjoy with that amount.
How To Make Jam Almond Cake
I’ve fallen in love with this simple, but really quite delicious cake. It’s rather like a Bakewell tart with its almond flavoured bottom and crust with a jam filling. But it’s much simpler and easier to make.
I expect the white chocolate helps to give a slightly richer feel. The texture is just how I like it: a little crunchy on the outside and soft and melting on the inside.
As the mix is quite stiff, more like dough than batter, the jam stays nicely in the middle and doesn’t sink. Bonus!
The method for making the cake dough is the same as for making scones. You need fridge cold butter cut into small cubes. Place your dry ingredients into a large bowl, then rub the butter into those ingredients with your fingertips. Keep going until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
Top Tip
Use a large mixing bowl so that you have plenty of room to move your hands. I find I get cramp if I try and do this in a small steep sided bowl.
Grate in some of that enriching white chocolate and stir to combine. Then you break in an egg, add some almond extract and stir with a fork. You should end up with a soft and slightly sticky dough. It will, however, depend on the size of the egg you’ve used and the state of your flour.
Ideally, you’re looking for something you can roll out. But don’t despair if your mixture is too wet, you can still use it. For the bottom layer, I use the aforementioned fork to spread half of the dough over the base of the cake tin. You can, however, roll it out if you prefer and if your dough is dry enough. Make sure you use a floured board and rolling pin.
Choose your jam and spread it in a thin even layer over the top. I used plum jam in the photo you can see below.
Now this is where I get the rolling pin out. If my dough is up to it, of course. Roll the remaining half of dough out on a floured board to a round big enough to fit your tin. Place it on top of the jam, then press the edges together slightly so that the jam doesn’t seep out.
Top Tip
If your dough is too sticky to roll, dollop small spoonfuls over the top of the jam and try to spread it across the top as best you can. You can see that’s how I did it in the photograph below.
Press whole almonds, blanched or with skin on, around the edge of the cake. Then pop it into the oven and bake. Sprinkle a little caster sugar over the top as soon as it’s out of the oven. This ensures that most of the sugar will stick to the cake.
Afternoon Tea
The very first jam almond cake I made was for afternoon tea. It may seem a bit plain for such an occasion, but it’s the sort of cake that actually performs very well. Whilst it might not get top marks on the cat walk, it’s very pleasing to eat. It works both as a dessert and when hosting guests for a coffee morning or afternoon tea.
You can always jazz it up with some whipped or clotted cream if you feel it needs it.
A friend gave me a beautiful cake cutting set for Christmas – a knife and slice. It’s fair-trade and the handles are made out of recycled bone. See the picture below. This very same friend was coming around for tea and the occasion was their debut.
Luckily, everyone thoroughly enjoyed the cake and I’ve been making it ever since. In fact I made one for my mother almost immediately after posting this recipe.
Other Simple British Bakes You Might Like
- Cornish fairings
- Cornish hevva cake
- Prune rock cakes
- Remarkable rhubarb cake
- Welsh cakes
- Yorkshire fat rascals
Keep in Touch
Thanks for visiting Tin and Thyme. If you make this simple jam sandwich almond cake, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. And do please rate the recipe. Have you any top tips? Do share photos on social media too and use the hashtag #tinandthyme, so I can spot them.
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If you’d like more almond recipes, follow the link and you’ll find I have quite a lot of them. All delicious, of course.
Choclette x
Jam Sandwich Almond Cake. PIN IT.
Jam Almond Cake – The Recipe
Jam Almond Cake
Ingredients
- 200 g wholemeal spelt flour or try half wholemeal and half unbleached white
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 85 g golden caster sugar + 1 tsp for sprinkling
- 85 g unsalted butter fridge cold
- 30 g white chocolate grated (I used Mortimer's white chocolate powder)
- 1 large egg
- ¾ tsp almond extract
- 2-3 tbsp jam of your choice (homemade fig and pomegranate jam is particularly good, but so is plum)
- 16 almonds whole or blanched
Instructions
- Weigh out the flour and place in a large bowl along with the baking powder and sugar.200 g wholemeal spelt flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 85 g golden caster sugar
- Cube the butter and rub it into the flour mixture with your fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.85 g unsalted butter
- Stir in the grated white chocolate or powder.30 g white chocolate
- Use a fork to mix in the eggs and almond extract. Stir until the mixture forms a rough ball of slightly sticky dough.1 large egg, ¾ tsp almond extract
- Using the fork, press half of the mixture into an 20 cm (8") round silicone cake mould or lined tin.
- Spread the jam over the dough.2-3 tbsp jam of your choice
- Depending on how wet the mixture is you can do one of two things for the top. Either place small blobs of the remaining dough over the jam and even it out as best you can with the aforementioned fork. Or roll out the dough out on a floured board to a round big enough to fit the top. Press the edges together slightly so that the jam doesn't seep out.
- Place the almonds around the edge of the cake, pressing them down slightly.16 almonds
- Bake at 180℃ (160℃ fan, 350℉, Gas 4) for 30 minutes when the cake should be well risen and firm to the touch. If it’s not quite ready, pop it back in for a further five minutes.
- Sprinkle with the reserved sugar and allow to cool in the tin for ten minutes. Turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition Estimate
Sharing
I’m sharing this simple jammy almond sandwich cake with Family, Friends, Food for #CookBlogShare.
Jackie says
Thank you Choclette for the recipe for Jam Almond Cake. I made mine with cherry jam and it turn out delicious . It was a lovely quick and easy recipe to do .
Choclette says
Thanks for letting me know Jackie. Cherry jam sounds delicious. I do like recipes that are simple to make, but still delicious.
Helen says
This looks amazing! I’ve never heard of Brighton cake before but having read your description I definitely need to bake one! Thanks for joining in with #CookBlogShare
Choclette says
There are so many forgotten but delicious cakes awaiting rediscovery I reckon.
Janice says
I love Bakewell tart and this is a lovely variation, so easy to make.
Choclette says
Yes, not too much faffing around at all and it tastes really good.
Chloe says
Looks delish – I’m going smooth strawberry jam!
Choclette says
You go whichever way you like Chloe. You will whatever I say anyway!
Kate Glutenfreealchemist says
I love cakes like this….. almost scone-like…… Bet it would be amazing smothered in custard!
Love the cake set too…. the handles are beautiful. What a lovely gift!
Choclette Blogger says
Yes indeed, I was thrilled with the cake set Kate. And you are right, the cake is halfway between a scone and a cake. It’s very nice indeed and would be fantastic smothered in custard.
Bintu Hardy says
I am a huge fan of almonds in cake so yum.
Choclette Blogger says
We have similar tastes it seems Bintu.
Baking Addict says
It does sound rather like a Bakewell tart but better I suspect! Lovely cake cutting set x
Choclette Blogger says
Thanks Ros. I like a good Bakewell, but this is a bit easier to make as there is no faffing around with pastry.
Choclette Blogger says
Thanks Laura 🙂
The Caked Crusader says
Lovely cake – and I like that it’s named after one of my favourite places too! Lovely gift – your friend chose well
Choclette Blogger says
You a Brighton girl CC? I only went there as a young child and my memories are vague.
Katie says
Looks delicious and I love the nobbly nutty top. Looks like a cross between cake and shortbread. Love the figgy filling
Choclette Blogger says
Yes, that’s a good analogy Katie. I made another one today 🙂
Jacqueline Meldrum says
I’ve got that book too, but only browsed through it so far. That cake looks gorgeous, but it needs some pouring cream in my mind.
Choclette Blogger says
We might have had a slice with clotted cream Jac 😉 The book I borrowed from the library.
Angie Schneider says
Your almond cake looks absolutely beautiful! Love that gorgeous golden crusty surface.
Choclette Blogger says
Thank you Angie. i’m going to make another one tomorrow 🙂
GG says
This cake looks wonderful, crunchy on the outside and sweet and almondy inside. I didn’t know you could get white chocolate powder. I’m off in search of that. GG
Choclette Blogger says
Mortimer’s do excellent chocolate powder GG – good quality chocolate which is ground fine, for hot chocolates or baking.
Laura Denman says
Your cake looks wonderful, your adaptations sound delicious and I love your knife/slice set. Very jealous 😉
Choclette Blogger says
Thanks Laura – isn’t it wonderful?
belleau kitchen says
It looks sensational. I too love this kind of almondy puddingy cakey thing. Recipe looks so interesting too with the White choc powder. Must try this.
Choclette Blogger says
Do try it Dom, I think you’ll like it.
Alida says
This is fabulous Choclette! I love anything made with almonds and I adore figs. Very nice indeed!
Choclette Blogger says
Thanks Alida, now you come to mention it, the flavours are very Mediterranean.
Sonia says
ooh this sounds delicious! I love Bakewell tarts, so this would be perfect for me!
Choclette Blogger says
Thanks Sonia. It’s a bit easier to make than a bake well tart as you don’t have to faff around with pastry.
Anne Szadorska says
Firstly I love your new cake slicers – those handles are beautiful even if the word recycled bone weird’s me out a little!
Secondly the cake looks really delicious – its homemade and with love and I would love a slice right now with my cuppa! I was talking about using wholemeal flour in baking with a friend the other day and how I really never do it for cakes but often with breads, I think I should be brave and try blending like you, pretend my cake is healthy 😉
Choclette Blogger says
Haha yes indeed Anne, I’m not quite sure what’s meant by that, but they are ethical and made by good people so I’m sure no-one was harmed in the making!
Do try wholemeal flour, it gives a certain nutty quality to cakes and certainly makes me feel as though I’m being a bit less naughty.
Suelle says
I’ve just made a similar cake with apples and dried apricots in the middle. As I made it, I thought jam in the middle would be tasty! Fig and pomegranate jam sounds delicious!
Choclette Blogger says
The beauty of this sort of cake, is that you can fill it with pretty much anything that grabs your fancy. Apple and apricot sounds good. I’m going to try it with lemon marmalade and flavour the cake with lemon zest rather than almonds.
The jam is delicious 🙂