Looking for a truly irresistible almond cake? This Nigella Marzipan Cake – Inspired Almond Cake is a dense, moist, and utterly delicious treat perfect for any occasion. Drawing inspiration from Nigella Lawson’s classic, this recipe provides a delightful balance of almond flavors, enhanced by the richness of marzipan, resulting in a cake that’s both elegant and comforting. This recipe promises a rich and flavorful baking experience, combining almond meal and marzipan for a deeply satisfying treat.
What is Nigella Marzipan Cake?
Nigella Marzipan Cake, often associated with Nigella Lawson, is a celebration of almond flavor. It’s a dense and buttery cake, typically made with almond flour (or almond meal), butter, eggs, and sugar. The marzipan adds a unique, sophisticated sweetness and chewy texture that sets it apart from other almond cakes.
This version aims to capture the essence of Nigella’s original, providing a slightly adapted recipe that is still incredibly easy to make and undeniably delicious. It’s perfect served with a cup of tea, as a dessert after dinner, or even as a special occasion treat. The combination of simple ingredients creates a complex and satisfying cake that’s sure to impress.
Ready to create this delightful almond treat? Grab your ingredients and let’s get baking!
Key Ingredients for Nigella Marzipan Cake:
- 225g Unsalted Butter: Softened to room temperature, essential for creating a tender and moist cake crumb.
- 225g Caster Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps to create a light and airy texture when creamed with butter.
- 225g Marzipan: Finely grated or crumbled, this adds a distinct almond flavor and a delightful chewy texture to the cake.
- 4 Large Eggs: Provide structure and richness to the cake. Use fresh, high-quality eggs for the best results.
- 1 tsp Almond Extract: Enhances the almond flavor and complements the marzipan, adding depth and complexity.
- 225g Ground Almonds (Almond Meal): The heart of the cake, providing a delicate almond flavor and a moist, slightly dense texture. Make sure to use finely ground almonds for the best result.
- 50g Plain Flour: Provides structure and helps to bind the ingredients together.
- 1 tsp Baking Powder: Helps the cake rise and creates a lighter texture. Ensure it’s fresh for optimal results.
- Pinch of Salt: Enhances the flavors of the other ingredients and balances the sweetness.
- Optional Decoration: Icing sugar for dusting or flaked almonds for decorating the top of the cake.
How to Make Nigella Marzipan Cake:
This Nigella Marzipan Cake-inspired recipe is easy, delicious, and incredibly satisfying. The combination of almond meal and marzipan creates a deeply flavorful cake with a beautiful texture.
It takes approximately 15 minutes to prepare and 45-50 minutes to bake, making it a relatively quick and straightforward baking project. The addition of almond extract amplifies the almond flavor, making it a true almond lover’s delight.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Preparation: Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan/Gas Mark 4). Grease and line a 20cm (8 inch) round cake tin with baking parchment. This ensures the cake doesn’t stick and is easy to remove.
Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and caster sugar until light and fluffy. This step is crucial for creating a light and airy cake. Use an electric mixer for best results, mixing for about 3-5 minutes until the mixture is pale and creamy.
Add Marzipan: Add the finely grated or crumbled marzipan to the butter and sugar mixture. Beat until well combined. This might take a minute or two, but ensure the marzipan is evenly distributed.
Incorporate Eggs: Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next. Add the almond extract along with the last egg. This prevents the mixture from curdling. If the mixture does curdle slightly, add a tablespoon of the ground almonds to help bind it together.
Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the ground almonds, plain flour, baking powder, and salt. This ensures the baking powder is evenly distributed throughout the dry ingredients.
Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can result in a tough cake. Mix until there are no streaks of flour visible.
Pour into Tin: Pour the batter into the prepared cake tin, spreading it evenly. If desired, sprinkle flaked almonds over the top for decoration.
Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top of the cake starts to brown too quickly, cover it loosely with foil.
Cooling: Let the cake cool in the tin for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents the cake from breaking while it’s still warm.
Serve: Once cooled, dust with icing sugar or serve as is. Enjoy your delicious Nigella Marzipan Cake!
Why You’ll Love This Nigella Marzipan Cake:
This Nigella Marzipan Cake-inspired recipe is a standout for its intensely almond flavor and incredibly moist texture. The marzipan not only adds sweetness but also a slight chewiness that’s simply irresistible. Making this cake at home is significantly cheaper than buying a similar quality cake from a bakery, and you have complete control over the ingredients.
Finally, the flaked almonds on top and a dusting of icing sugar create a beautiful presentation that’s perfect for any occasion. If you enjoy classic almond cake recipes, you might also like to try a simple Almond Biscotti recipe for a perfect coffee accompaniment.
Give this recipe a try and discover a new favorite cake.
What to Serve Nigella Marzipan Cake With:
This Nigella Marzipan Cake pairs beautifully with a variety of accompaniments. Enjoy it with a simple cup of Earl Grey tea or a strong black coffee to balance the sweetness. A dollop of crème fraîche or lightly sweetened whipped cream can add a touch of richness and creaminess.
For a more sophisticated pairing, consider serving it with a sweet dessert wine like Sauternes or a Moscato d’Asti. Fresh berries, such as raspberries or blueberries, add a burst of freshness and complement the almond flavor perfectly.
Top Tips for Perfecting Nigella Marzipan Cake:
- Use Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your butter and eggs are at room temperature for a smoother batter and better emulsion which helps the cake to rise evenly.
- Don’t Overmix: Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour, resulting in a tough cake. Mix until just combined.
- Grating Marzipan: Grating the marzipan finely allows it to incorporate more evenly into the batter, ensuring a consistent flavor and texture. If you don’t have a grater, finely crumble it with your fingers.
- Preventing a Soggy Bottom: If your oven tends to bake unevenly, place a baking sheet on the rack below the cake to help deflect some of the heat.
- Ingredient Substitutions: If you don’t have almond extract, a splash of Amaretto liqueur can add a similar level of almond flavor, but be mindful of the moisture content and reduce another liquid slightly.
5 Facts about Nigella Marzipan Cake:
- Marzipan Magic: The marzipan in the cake not only adds flavor but also helps to keep the cake incredibly moist for days.
- Nigella’s Influence: Nigella Lawson is renowned for her simple and delicious recipes, and this cake is inspired by her signature style.
- Global Appeal: Almond cakes are popular in many cultures, with variations found in Europe, the Middle East, and beyond.
- Festive Favorite: Marzipan in the cake makes it suitable for festive occasions, with its rich and nutty taste.
- Versatile Dessert: This cake can be enjoyed plain, with icing sugar, or with a variety of toppings, making it a versatile dessert for any occasion.
Storing and Reheating Tips:
This Nigella Marzipan Cake is best stored in an airtight container at room temperature. It will stay fresh for up to 3-4 days, thanks to the moisture-retaining properties of the marzipan. You can also freeze the cake for longer storage. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then foil, and it will keep well for up to 2 months. To thaw, place it in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature for a few hours. Reheating isn’t typically necessary, as the cake is delicious served at room temperature.
Final Thoughts:
This Nigella Marzipan Cake Inspired Almond Cake is a delightful dessert that’s sure to impress. It’s easy to make, incredibly flavorful, and perfect for any occasion. The combination of almond meal and marzipan creates a unique and satisfying texture, making it a true standout among almond cakes.
try also : Easy Pumpkin Dump Cake Recipe and find more in pinterest
Nigella Marzipan Cake FAQs:
Q: Can I use almond flour instead of ground almonds?
A: Yes, almond flour and ground almonds (almond meal) are essentially the same thing, though almond flour is sometimes more finely ground.
Q: Can I make this cake gluten-free?
A: To make this cake gluten-free, ensure your baking powder and almond flour are certified gluten-free. You can also substitute the plain flour with a gluten-free blend, but keep in mind that the texture might be slightly different.
Q: Can I reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe?
A: Yes, you can reduce the sugar slightly, but keep in mind that it will affect the texture and sweetness of the cake. Start by reducing it by about 25% and adjust to your taste.
Q: The top of my cake is browning too quickly, what should I do?
A: If the top of the cake is browning too quickly, cover it loosely with foil during the last 15-20 minutes of baking.
Q: Can I add other flavors to this cake?
A: Yes, you can customize the recipe by adding other flavors such as orange zest, lemon zest, or a sprinkle of cinnamon.