Sunday, October 14, 2007

ALMOND STREUSEL CAKE

25 minutes preparation, 30-35 ~ minutes baking
16 servings
Streusel
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 cup sliced almonds
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
1 teaspoon grated orange zest

Cake
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2/3 cup orange juice

Glaze
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
2-1/2 teaspoons orange juice

1 Preheat the oven to 3500 F. Grease a 9- or 10-inch tube pan.
2 To prepare the streusel, in a medium bowl, mix together brown sugar, nuts, and flour. Stir in the butter and zest.
3 To prepare cake, in a large bowl, using an electric mixer set on medium speed, beat together butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in zest and vanilla.
4 In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and baking soda.
5 Reduce mixer speed to low. Alternately beat flour mixture and orange juice into egg mixture, beginning and ending with flour.
6 Spoon half of the batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle with half of the streusel. Top with the remaining batter and streusel.
7 Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool completely.
8 To prepare the glaze, in a cup, stir together confectioners' sugar and orange juice until smooth.
9 Turn the cake out onto a serving plate, placing it right-side up. Drizzle with the glaze.

Baking Tips
For a different streusel mixture, substitute chopped walnuts for the almonds.

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