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Ground Almond and Chocolate Easter Cake with Chocolate Glaze

Almond and chocolate Easter Cake

Almond and chocolate Easter Cake

I am a bit of an almond fan. Some of the best almonds come from Turkey and we eat them in abundance at home. They are not only packed with flavor but they also have great health benefits. To name a few; almonds are full of fiber and antioxidants, they reduce your risk of heart disease and lower risk of weight gain.

I spotted this wonderful Chocolate and Almond Easter Cake at Rose Prince’s Easter Bake. The ground almonds make this cake really moist and the cake stays fresh for 4-5 days. It is a rich cake and I like to cut it in small squares to enjoy the cake as a “treat”. The children absolutely love decorating and licking out the bowl of remaining melted chocolate in the end! It is also a lovely dessert for Passover, if you’re celebrating.

Preparation time : 35 minutes              Baking time : 40 minutes

350g/ 12 1/4 oz caster sugar

350g/ 12 1/4 oz  softened unsalted butter

8 eggs, separated

75g/ 2 1/2 oz cocoa powder mixed to a thick paste with a little hot water

1 tsp vanilla essence

300g ground almonds

¾ tsp cream of tartar

For the chocolate glaze

200g/7 oz 60 % dark chocolate;

50g/ 1 3/4oz unsalted butter

Little Easter chocolate eggs to decorate

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.

Butter the base of a 25cm square cake tin and dust it lightly with flour. Line the sides with baking paper.

Beat the sugar and butter together until pale and fluffy; then beat in the egg yolks one by one. Fold in the cocoa, vanilla essence and ground almonds. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites to stiff peaks, adding the cream of tartar at the end. Fold them into the mixture, pour it into the tin and bake for about 40 minutes, until the sponge feels firm to the touch.

 

Almond and chocolate cake, baked

 

While the cake is baking, melt the butter and the chocolate in a bowl over simmering water.

 

Chocolate and butter, melting

Once the cake is baked, cool it in the tin for 10 minutes then gently turn out onto a rack. The sponge will sink as it cools. When cold, cut the cake into squares and dribble warm chocolate glaze over each.

Children love decorating the cake

Place the little Easter chocolate eggs on the cakes when the icing has set.

You may like to serve this lovely rich cake with a light, refreshing main course like this Baked Salmon with onions, red peppers and lemon.

I wanted to sign off with this lovely spring blossoms from our back garden, really nice to see the earth waking up in full bloom.

 

Wishing you all a happy Easter and Passover, if you’re celebrating,

 Ozlem

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15 Responses to Ground Almond and Chocolate Easter Cake with Chocolate Glaze

  1. Camille Evian April 4, 2012 at 1:50 pm #

    Hello Ozlem,

    Thank you very much for sharing this blog article. This Almond and Chocolate Easter cake seems to be delicious!
    I’m also a big fan of almond (especially the almond paste). My favourite cake is definitely the Epiphany cake!

    If anynone is looking for a cake for Easter I deeply recommend to take a look at this Easter cakes website which is an excellent one.

    • Ozlem April 4, 2012 at 6:46 pm #

      Hello Camille,
      Many thanks for stopping by and your kind comment – I never had Epiphany cake before, now I need to look out for that 🙂 And many thanks for the info on Dunns Bakery, their baking looks amazing – I see they are in London, I made a note to visit them next time I am there, look forward to it!

  2. Claudia April 4, 2012 at 3:22 pm #

    Oh Özlem, what a lovely post. I love your pics, all of them, and for me, it is especially sweet to see you doing a post of something for Easter. I also love that idea of licking the bowl that we English have: a friend of mine from the UK was just here in Istanbul visiting her Turkish grandchildren and made a cake with them. She got really upset when the maid washed the bowl before the children got to grips with licking the bowl which she had promised them!

    Happy Easter!

    • Ozlem April 4, 2012 at 6:41 pm #

      Merhaba Claudia,
      Thanks a million for this sweet comment; licking the bowl is the best bit, we all fight for it! It’s lovely to see children getting excited about festivities and baking, and we celebrate them all! Happy Easter to you too 🙂

  3. Peri April 5, 2012 at 3:21 am #

    This cake looks so very delicious:) oh my, I want to bake it right away!! Almonds are my favorites too, love them.

    And the pictures are beautiful with the easter eggs and chocolate melting…great piece and recipe.

    • Ozlem April 5, 2012 at 1:10 pm #

      Thank you very much Peri; how I wished you were closer and we could share this delicious bite together – you will be in my thoughts, hope you can have a chance to bake it : )

  4. Phil in the Kitchen April 5, 2012 at 9:18 pm #

    I love almond cakes in almost any form but, of course, chocolate is an addition that’s always welcome. They look delicious. Have a great Easter.

    • Ozlem April 6, 2012 at 3:53 pm #

      Thank you Phil, they went down very quickly 🙂 Happy Easter, Ozlem

  5. Peri April 10, 2012 at 1:52 pm #

    Hi Ozlem,

    Peri’s Spice Ladle received the Sunshine Award nomination and since you know I love your site and blog posts, I have nominated you for the Sunshine Award. If you’d like to read and repost the award, here’s the link: http://perisspiceladle.com/2012/04/10/sunshine-award/

    Look forward to reading more of your posts.

    Love Peri.

    • Ozlem April 12, 2012 at 4:27 pm #

      Dear Peri, many thanks for this wonderful award nomination, I loved the flower icon, very uplifting. Many thanks for thinking of me and your kind words, so much appreciated.
      And many congratulations to you too; I love reading your posts and look forward to reading more, keep them coming!:)

      • Peri April 13, 2012 at 2:01 pm #

        Dear Ozlem, you so deserve the award nomination, I love and use your recipes and posts and can’t wait to read them:) Love Peri.

  6. Mary March 27, 2013 at 4:52 am #

    looks fabulous Ozlem! I’m going to use the choc glaze & mini eggs decoration for my son’s birthday cupcakes for his class – it will transform the humble cupcake – until I get to make the full recipe at the weekend 🙂

    have a safe trip xxx

    • Ozlem Warren March 27, 2013 at 11:54 am #

      Merhaba Mary, glad you liked the cake, the chocolate glaze does transform any humble cake and brings smiles, happy birthday to your son!
      xx Ozlem

  7. Hagit March 27, 2013 at 10:29 am #

    This is a perfect for passover!!

    • Ozlem Warren March 27, 2013 at 11:53 am #

      Thanks Hagit, hope you enjoy it! 🙂
      Ozlem

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