This delightful almond lemon cake is a perfect blend of nutty almond flour and zesty lemon. It's a light and fluffy treat that's ideal for any occasion, whether it's a casual afternoon tea or a special celebration. The combination of butter, sugar, and eggs creates a rich and moist texture, while the lemon zest and lemon juice add a refreshing tang.
If you're not familiar with almond flour, it's a finely ground flour made from blanched almonds and can be found in the baking aisle or health food section of most supermarkets. Make sure to get fresh lemons for the lemon zest and lemon juice. These ingredients are crucial for achieving the cake's vibrant flavor.
Ingredients for Almond Lemon Cake
Almond flour: A finely ground flour made from blanched almonds, providing a nutty flavor and moist texture.
Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps to create a tender crumb.
Butter: Provides richness and moisture to the cake.
Eggs: Help to bind the ingredients together and add structure.
Baking powder: A leavening agent that helps the cake rise.
Lemon zest: Adds a bright, citrusy flavor to the cake.
Lemon juice: Enhances the lemon flavor and adds a bit of acidity to balance the sweetness.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
When creaming together the butter and sugar, ensure the butter is at room temperature to achieve a light and fluffy texture. This step is crucial as it incorporates air into the mixture, which helps the cake rise properly. If the butter is too cold, it won't mix well, and if it's too warm, it can become greasy.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
almond flour - Substitute with coconut flour: Coconut flour is a good gluten-free alternative, but it absorbs more moisture, so you may need to adjust the liquid content.
sugar - Substitute with honey: Honey adds a natural sweetness and moisture to the cake, but you may need to reduce other liquids slightly.
softened butter - Substitute with coconut oil: Coconut oil provides a similar fat content and moisture, with a slight coconut flavor that can complement the lemon.
eggs - Substitute with flax eggs: Mix 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of water per egg. This is a good vegan alternative that helps bind the ingredients.
baking powder - Substitute with baking soda and cream of tartar: Use ¼ teaspoon baking soda and ½ teaspoon cream of tartar for each teaspoon of baking powder needed.
lemon zest - Substitute with orange zest: Orange zest provides a similar citrus flavor, though it will be slightly sweeter and less tart.
freshly squeezed lemon juice - Substitute with lime juice: Lime juice offers a similar acidity and tartness, though it has a slightly different flavor profile.
Other Alternative Recipes Similar to This Cake
How to Store / Freeze This Cake
- To keep your almond lemon cake fresh and delicious, first ensure it has cooled completely on a wire rack.
- Wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out.
- Place the wrapped cake in an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag.
- Store the cake at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you prefer a longer shelf life, refrigerate it for up to a week.
- For freezing, wrap the cake in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil to protect it from freezer burn.
- Label the package with the date and contents to keep track of its freshness.
- Place the wrapped cake in a freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty freezer bag.
- Freeze the cake for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight.
- For a quick thaw, let the cake sit at room temperature for a few hours.
- To refresh the cake, warm it in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for about 10 minutes. This will help restore its delightful texture and flavor.
How to Reheat Leftovers
Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C). Wrap the almond lemon cake in aluminum foil to prevent it from drying out. Place it on a baking sheet and heat for about 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through.
For a quicker option, use the microwave. Place a slice of the cake on a microwave-safe plate. Cover it with a damp paper towel to retain moisture. Heat on medium power for 20-30 seconds. Check and add more time if needed, but be careful not to overheat.
If you have an air fryer, set it to 300°F (150°C). Wrap the cake in foil and place it in the basket. Heat for about 5-7 minutes, checking halfway through to ensure it doesn’t get too crispy.
For a stovetop method, use a steamer. Place the cake on a heatproof plate and set it in the steamer basket. Steam for about 5 minutes, or until the cake is warm and moist.
If you prefer a toaster oven, preheat it to 300°F (150°C). Wrap the cake in foil and place it on the rack. Heat for 10-12 minutes, checking to make sure it doesn’t overcook.
Best Tools for This Recipe
Oven: Used to bake the cake at the specified temperature of 350°F (175°C).
Mixing bowl: Essential for combining ingredients like butter, sugar, eggs, almond flour, baking powder, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
Hand mixer: Useful for creaming together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, and for beating in the eggs.
Measuring cups: Necessary for accurately measuring the almond flour, sugar, and lemon juice.
Measuring spoons: Used to measure the baking powder and lemon zest.
Spatula: Handy for scraping down the sides of the mixing bowl to ensure all ingredients are well combined.
Cake pan: The container in which the batter is poured and baked.
Toothpick: Used to check if the cake is done by inserting it into the center to see if it comes out clean.
Wire rack: Needed for cooling the cake completely after it has been baked.
Zester: Used to obtain the lemon zest.
Juicer: Helps in extracting freshly squeezed lemon juice.
How to Save Time on Making This Cake
Pre-measure ingredients: Measure out all ingredients before starting to save time during the baking process.
Use a food processor: Quickly blend the butter and sugar together using a food processor instead of manually creaming them.
Room temperature eggs: Use room temperature eggs to ensure they mix more easily and evenly into the batter.
Lemon zest and juice prep: Zest and juice the lemon beforehand to streamline the mixing process.
Grease the pan early: Grease your cake pan before you start mixing to avoid any delays when the batter is ready.
Almond Lemon Cake
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup Almond Flour
- ½ cup Sugar
- ½ cup Butter softened
- 2 Eggs
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1 tablespoon Lemon Zest
- ¼ cup Lemon Juice freshly squeezed
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Mix in the almond flour, baking powder, lemon zest, and lemon juice until well combined.
- Pour the batter into a greased cake pan.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Nutritional Value
Keywords
Suggested Appetizers and Main Courses for This Cake
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