Almond Cake

Ingredients:

4 oz almond paste

½ cup granulated sugar

3 large eggs

½ teaspoon almond extract

½ cup all purpose flour

½ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

Topping:

½ cup sliced almonds

1-2 Tablespoons granulated sugar

Optional toppings:  powdered sugar, whipped cream, fresh berries

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line the bottom of an 8 inch round cake pan with parchment paper and grease the pan.

Crumble almond paste into food processor bowl.  Add granulated sugar and pulse until almond paste is finely ground.  Add butter and process until smooth (it will turn into a ball; just keep processing until it smooths out).  Add eggs and almond extract and process until combined.  Occasionally stop processor and scrape down sides.  Sprinkle with flour , baking powder, and salt, and process until blended.  

Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top.  Tap the pan on the countertop a few times to remove air bubbles.  Top the cake batter with sliced almonds and 1 - 2 tablespoons of sugar.  I like to add half the almonds, sprinkle with half the sugar , then repeat.

Bake for 23-26 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean.  Place pan on wire rack.  Cool for 30 minutes, then carefully remove it from the pan and place cake back on rack to cool.  If desired top with optional toppings