A large and delicious lemon almond cake, made with ground almonds. It’s flecked with chocolate and has a wondrous crunchy almond topping.
Never let it be said that I fail to keep my powder dry. Here’s a post I’ve just found from August 2013 that has yet to see the light of day on the blog – until now.
This lemon almond cake is the one I’d wanted to make for CTs birthday. He likes these flavours and they seem sort of light and summery somehow. Fates conspired as they often do and he ended up not getting a birthday cake at all. Well not until a bit later anyway.
Love a Good Silicone Mould
I gave up on using cake tins years ago. I couldn’t be bothered with the faff of having to line them. Silicone moulds are just brilliant and I have a number of them. No need to line them and it’s rare that anything sticks to them.
I’ve been awaiting delivery of a much coveted silicone cake mould from the ingenious Mustard. I have seen several cakes made with it on the internet over the last few weeks and I was keen to try it for myself. Its scalloped edges resemble a daisy flower which cunningly, when cut into six slices, comes out in a series of heart shapes.
As well as being quite sturdy for a silicone mould, it’s nice and deep too. This means it can either make one very deep cake or it can be cut into two or even three layers and sandwiched with something delicious.
Lemon Almond Cake
No sooner did it arrive than I was busy in the kitchen with bowl and wooden spoon, humming a tune as I whipped and folded. I dithered for a little as to whether I should use white or dark chocolate in this lemon almond cake. I was going to use white initially as it’s nice to have a pale sponge from time to time.
In the end, however, I thought a few flecks of very dark bitter chocolate would help take the edge off any sweetness.
It was one of those days when everything seems to go wrong and it probably wasn’t the most auspicious time for making a cake. I managed to burn our first crop of beetroot and my favourite saucepan was a complete write-off.
As you can see, I burnt the top of the lemon almond cake a little too. Luckily, despite leaving it in the oven five minutes more than I’d intended, the slightly darkened top hid a light, moist, buttery and most delicious sponge. The top was in fact very tasty with a satisfying caramalised nutty crunch to it.
CT was so impressed he had to have a second slice immediately after finishing his first. That was a 2nd of the half slices I hasten to add. The heart slices looked very impressive, but they are also rather on the generous side. Half a slice of this rather large cake would be fine for most people, though obviously not for CT.
PS – When I sampled the lemon almond cake again on day two, I came to the conclusion that this is one of the most delicious cakes I’ve baked in a long time. It must be that heart – I’m in love.
Other Recipes Using This Mould
- Almond apple cider cake via Tin and Thyme
- Black Forest Cake at Elizabeth’s Kitchen
- Raspberry and Gooseberry Cake at The Caked Crusader
- Raspberry Rose and Almond Cake at Belleau Kitchen
If this lemon almond cake isn’t enough to tempt you, have a look at some of my other large cake recipes. Or for something a bit more special, I have several layer cakes you might like.
CT’s Birthday
Despite a really busy week at work I managed to take the day off. In true botanist style, CT chose to spend the day visiting gardens and nurseries in and around the English Riviera. In other words, across the border and into Devon. Amazingly it didn’t rain and we had a lovely day.
We had lunch at The Combe Sellers, a pub restaurant right on the banks of the River Teign. The food was really good and the setting was lovely. As well as a celebratory glass of Pimms, we finished up with a sharing dessert platter, which really is the most decadent way to enjoy pudding.
Other Lemon Cakes You Might Like
- Citrus drizzle cake (vegan)
- Lemon caraway seed cake
- Lemon coconut cakes with freekah flour
- Matcha green tea & lemon madeleines
- Poppy seed & lemon traybake
- Simple lemon curd cake
Keep in Touch
Thank you for visiting Tin and Thyme. If you make this lemon almond cake, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. Do you have any recommendations or advice for making it?
I’d very much appreciate it if you could rate the recipe. If you post pictures of your creations on social media, please use the hashtag #tinandthyme so I can see them.
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If you’d like more lemon recipes, follow the link and you’ll find I have quite a lot of them. All delicious, of course.
Choclette x
Lemon Almond Cake – The Recipe
Lemon Almond Cake Flecked with Dark Chocolate
Equipment
Ingredients
- 250 g unsalted butter softened
- 250 g golden caster sugar (I used cardamom sugar)
- 3 large eggs (I used duck eggs)
- 1 organic lemon zest and juice
- 200 g flour (I used half wholemeal & half plain white)
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
- 75 g ground almonds
- 25 g dark chocolate (I used 100% cocoa solids) – grated
- 25 g flaked almonds
- 2 tbsp demerara sugar
Instructions
- Cream butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy.250 g unsalted butter, 250 g golden caster sugar
- Grate in the lemon zest and cream some more.1 organic lemon
- Beat in the eggs one by one.3 large eggs
- Sift in the dry ingredients and stir gently until just incorporated.200 g flour, 2 tsp baking powder, ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda), 75 g ground almonds
- Stir in the lemon juice.
- Gently stir in the chocolate.25 g dark chocolate
- Spoon into a 23 cm cake mould or better still an I Love Cake mould.
- Mix the demerara sugar and flaked almonds together then scatter over the top of the cake.25 g flaked almonds, 2 tbsp demerara sugar
- Bake at 180℃ (160℃ fan, 350℉, Gas 4) for 35 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. Leave to cool for 15 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack covered in greaseproof paper to avoid the rack pattern being imprinted onto the cake. Leave to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition Estimate
Sharing
This lemon almond cake was a belated birthday cake for CT whose birthday is at the height of summer. As the heart shaped slices denote love, I’m sending one to Calendar Cakes where the theme is Summer Lovin. This is a monthly challenge hosted alternately by Dolly Bakes and Laura Loves Cakes.
It just so happens that this month’s Love Cake theme over at JibberJabberUK is Feeling Fruity. So this lemony cake is winging its way in that direction.
I’m also sending this off to AlphaBakes as the letter is L for Lemon this month. This monthly challenge is hosted over at The More Than Occasional Baker.
Jibber JabberUK says
I’m so glad you found this recipe. I love the combination of lemon and chocolate. I remember there used to be a lemon chocolate in a box of chocolates I liked but I can’t remember which one it was now!
Choclette Blogger says
Thanks Ness. I feel I’m just going to have to make this one again. I had a lemon chocolate in the box of Charbonnel et Walker I recently reviewed on the blog, but CT got to eat it – he told me it was very good.
Baking Addict says
It’s not a common combination but it’s a great one – lemon and chocolate. Now I want a slice too! Love the mirror lake.
Choclette Blogger says
Thanks Ros. I can see I’m going to have to make this again so I can remind myself what it was all about 😉
Kate Glutenfreealchemist says
Funny how lemon & choc doesn’t automatically come to mind in cake form. It is so obvious when you think of all those amazing artisan lemon chocolates that you find. Yum!
Choclette Blogger says
Where are you finding all those amazing artisan lemon chocolates Kate???
Kate Glutenfreealchemist says
There seem to be quite a few ‘home-made’ independent chocolatiers locally who sell their wares at farmers markets, at food festivals and through farm shops. I have seen (and tasted) a few lemon infused bars and truffles there. At the bigger end, I know that Waitrose did some lovely dark chocolate and lemon truffles a couple of years back (although I haven’t seen them for some time). Typical…. your post has given me a bit of a hankering for them……
Choclette Blogger says
I expect you have a better class of farmer’s markets than we do – at least when it comes to chocolate. Will check Waitrose out next time I’m passing.
Nicola Fraser says
What a lowly cake and I’m glad the lemon wasn’t too over powering. I was kind of hoping to find out how lemon curd would have worked in the cake but oh well x
Choclette Blogger says
I’ve used various curds in cake Nicola and they work really well – here’s a passionfruit curd cake I made at a similar time. https://tinandthyme.uk/2012/05/passionfruit-curd-sponge-cake/
Dark Hot Chocolate K-Cups in Chicago says
Ughghh, I haven’t eaten breakfast yet today and I found your blog… My stomach is singing the song of its people so loud in the office now!
Choclette Blogger says
Haha, love the thought of your stomach singing. Will remember that one 🙂
Angie Schneider says
I too love the combo of chocolate and lemon. The cake must taste great!
Choclette Blogger says
Thanks Angie. Trouble is, it was so long ago, I can’t really remember any more. I’ll just have to make it again.
Bintu @ Recipes From A Pantry says
Chocolate and lemon – oh yes, oh yes, oh yes.
Choclette Blogger says
Thanks Bintu, love your enthusiasm 🙂
Phil in the Kitchen says
Lemon and chocolate can be an excellent combination and this sounds lovely. Not long ago I had a dessert in a restaurant that overdid the lemon for me and I definitely prefer your more subtle approach. (I think I might have some old posts around somewhere – I must go looking.)
Choclette Blogger says
Yes I can see that Phil – getting the balance right is what it’s all about. Good luck with your old post search 🙂
Laura Pearson-Smith says
I would never have thought of putting chocolate icing on lemon cake. Must give this a try 🙂
Choclette Blogger says
Thanks Laura – it’s not an obvious pairing, but it’s a good one.
Face Up Beauty says
Oh dear, I’ve got such a sweet tooth and a massive weakness for cake, of most varieties it has to be said (though fruit is probably my least favourite). Chocolate and lemon – yes, bring it on! Tx
Choclette Blogger says
Never quite sure if having a sweet tooth is a curse or a gift :-S
cnhartman2 says
This cake sounds delicious! I’ve never thought to mix lemon and chocolate. I’ll definitely need to try this. Thanks!
Choclette Blogger says
Thank you. It’s not an obvious pairing, but nevertheless a good one.
belleau kitchen says
love it… wish I could find an old post or two!… lemon and choc good!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Choclette Blogger says
I’ve got loads Dom, but mostly in a very incomplete state. Also loads of photographs of stuff I meant to post and now it’s toto late as I’ve forgotten what I did.
Jane Sarchet says
Looks great, what a lucky chap that CT is 😉
Janie x
PS that platter of desserts – YUM!
Choclette Blogger says
When it comes to cake, I think he’d probably agree Jane 🙂
Heidi Roberts says
What a great classic combination – lemon and chocolate!
Choclette Blogger says
And there was me thinking I was pushing the boundaries Heidi 😉
Christian Halfmann says
Looks fine for me, too. I wouldn’t mind a piece of that cake now … eh … I think I would like it now.
Choclette Blogger says
Ah thanks Chris – I seem to remember we enjoyed it at the time.