Name: Italian Almond Cake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 1 cup granulated sugar; 5 large eggs (separated); 3/4 cup all-purpose flour; 1/3 cup butter (melted); 1/2 lemon (zested); 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder; 3 cups ground blanched almonds ((or almond flour)); 1/2 cup sliced almonds (for topping)

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This easy-to-make Italian Almond Cake is incredibly satisfying! A dense, buttery, lightly sweet dessert that’s a perfect way to end any meal!

The flavor profile of this Italian Almond Cake recipe is so layered and nuanced you’d swear it came from a European bakery…but it’s amazingly easy to make! Using staples like sugar, flour, eggs, lemon zest, and butter combined with blanched and sliced almonds, this simple, one-layer cake will exceed your expectations!

slice of italian almond cake on a cake serve over the cake with recipe name at the bottom

A Versatile Classic Italian Dessert

If Italy is known for anything besides pasta, it’s amazing desserts! Decadent, creamy delicacies like tiramisu, panna cotta, and cannoli, along with not-too-sweet, “rustic” treats like biscotti, tortes, and, of course, almond cake.

Now, don’t confuse this cake with an Italian Cream Cake (which is multi-layered and labor-intensive!) This Italian Almond Cake recipe is easy and incredibly versatile. The dense, moist texture and complex flavors make it ideal for an after-dinner dessert, a wine and cheese party, or even a quick and easy breakfast!

Other Recipes to Serve with Italian Almond Cake

Pair the Italian Almond Cake with The Best Fruit Salad Recipe for a special occasion brunch or lunch. It’s cool and beautiful!
A refreshing Peach Iced Tea or this Southern Spiked Peach Iced Tea makes the perfect complement to a slice of almond cake!

Ingredients

Dry Cake Ingredients: Some almond cakes require almond paste and almond flour, but we’re keeping things “pantry staple simple” here – sugar, A-P flour, and baking powder make up the base of this cake.

Moist Cake Ingredients: Five eggs and butter give the cake its dense, rich texture!

Citrus: The zest of one lemon makes the Italian Almond Cake slightly tangy and completely wonderful! (An orange would also work and give it a different flavor.)

Crunch: Three cups of blanched almonds go into the cake mix to give it a nutty flavor and texture. Sliced almonds will be toasted to make that perfect crispy crunchy topping!

How to Make Italian Almond Cake

STEP ONE: Generously grease a 9-inch springform pan. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Whisk the egg yolks and sugar until light and fluffy, then add the melted butter, flour, baking powder, and lemon zest.

beaten sugar and egg yolks in a mixing bowl with flor, lemon zest, baking powder, and melted butter

STEP TWO: Mix in the blanched almonds. The consistency of this “batter” will be thick and crumbly – this is as it should be!

almond flour stirred into the egg yolk mixture in a mixing bowl

STEP THREE: In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff. Fold the egg whites gently into the cake batter until well incorporated.

egg white folded into the almond flour mixture in a mixing bowl

STEP FOUR: Pour the cake batter into the prepared springform pan. Sprinkle with the sliced almonds evenly across the top of the cake batter.

italian almond cake in a greased springform pan and sliced almonds sprinkled over the top

STEP FIVE: Bake for 45 minutes or until the almonds are nice and toasted and a toothpick comes out clean. (If the almonds brown before the cake is done, cover the cake with foil to continue baking.)

looking down at a baked italian almond cake on a plate

STEP SIX: Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool for 10-15 minutes before running a knife around the edge of the cake. Remove the ring from the pan and dust the cake with powdered sugar if desired.

italian almond cake topped with powdered sugar on a plate with a slice being taken on a cake server

Tips for Success

If you don’t have a springform pan, simply line a round cake pan in a criss-cross fashion with two pieces of parchment paper long enough to give you “handles” to lift the cake out when it’s done.
Many recipes call for room-temperature eggs, but cold eggs separate better, so I used this recipe.
Fold the egg white into the cake gently. Don’t stir or whisk the egg whites in as you remove all of the air you beat into them and completely change the texture of the final cake.
Italian Almond Cake is delicious, and it pairs well with sweet fruits like peaches, pears, and plums, along with some whipped cream.

italian almond cake cut into slices on a plate with a slice missing

What Are Blanched Almonds?

Blanched almonds are simply almonds that have had the dark brown “skins” removed. This is done by boiling the almonds for a couple of minutes, rinsing them with cold water, and then sliding the outer skin off the nut. Blanched almond flour is often used in pastry recipes because it has a silkier, lighter texture than regular almond flour, and the nuts themselves have a sweeter, almost buttery flavor once blanched.

How Should I Store Italian Almond Cake?

An almond cake should be covered well and stored at room temperature. Sealed well, it will taste fresh for 2-3 days. Refrigerated, it will keep for 5-6 days, and frozen (it should really be stored in an airtight container), it will keep up to 3 months. Simply thaw overnight before serving.

slice of italian almond cake on a small plate with a fork

Other Amazing Almond Dessert Recipes

*This post was originally posted on 05/10/2014.