Paired with a cup of coffee and shared with a friend, Swedish Almond Cake makes any occasion sweeter! Dense cake with sweet almond topping.
Love almonds? These sweet Almond Bars are a favorite, for the holidays and all year long! For a chewy bar, try baking a batch of Coconut Almond Bars!
Why this Cake Recipe is Best
I love a perfect cake to go with my afternoon coffee. This friends, is that perfect cake. It’s super moist, dense, and has a hint of lemon and almond.
In Sweden, there’s a custom I love called “Fika.” It translates to “have coffee” but means a little more than that.
The practice of Fika involves sitting down with a friend to chat over a cup of coffee and a snack. It’s considered an essential part of each day; don’t you love that?
I think we could all do with taking more time out of our busy lives to enjoy uninterrupted time with our friends–especially if cake is involved!
A slice of this Swedish Almond Cake or a plate of Swedish Heirloom Cookies are ideal accompaniments to that afternoon coffee and conversation.
- While our cream cheese coffee cake recipe is airy with a crumb topping, Swedish Almond Cake is closer to a cookie in texture and crusted with sugared almonds.
- The moist dense texture and not-too-sweet almond flavor make it a delightful afternoon pick-me-up or tea party treat.
I’ve even been known to sneak a slice or two with my morning coffee for breakfast! Best of all, this tasty almond cake recipe is one of the least complicated cakes to make. There’s no messing with frosting or toppings, just mix the batter, bake and enjoy.
Vanilla Sugar – Secret Ingredient
This Swedish Almond Cake gets its great flavor from vanilla sugar and almond extract. Lemon zest brightens everything up while using melted butter in the batter is key for achieving the texture that makes this cake irresistible.
If you’ve never baked with vanilla sugar before, you’re in for a treat. Vanilla sugar is sugar infused with vanilla beans.
NOTE: Vanilla sugar is NOT just sugar mixed with vanilla extract! Vanilla sugar brings a light vanilla taste and aroma to the cake in a way that vanilla extract can’t quite acheive.
How to Make Swedish Almond Cake
My almond cake recipe comes together in just three steps.
Make the cake batter. In a mixer, blend vanilla sugar with zest from one lemon (get our tips on how to zest a lemon). Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add in salt and almond extract then mix in the flour and melted butter.
Top with Almonds. Pour the cake batter into a greased and floured 9 inch cake pan (You can also use my homemade cake release for the pans).
Sprinkle the top with coarse sugar and sliced almonds. You can get fancy with a pattern here or just sprinkle free form. Either way the cake will look elegant and taste wonderful.
Bake. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 25 minutes. Remove from oven, cool several minutes before turning out of pan.
Swedish Almond Cake can be enjoyed warm or cooled to room temperature. I love it served both ways!
More Easy Cake recipes
- German Chocolate Cake
- Carrot Bundt Cake
- Coconut Cake recipe
- Lemon Bundt Cake
- Lemon Ricotta Cake
- Cream Puff Cake
- Kringle Recipe
Favorite Desserts
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Swedish Almond Cake
Ingredients
- 1 cup vanilla sugar
- 1 lemon zested
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- 2 Tablespoons sliced almonds
- 1 Tablespoon coarse sugar pearl sugar
Instructions
- In mixer, blend vanilla sugar with zest from one lemon. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add in salt and almond extract.
- Mix in the flour and melted butter.
- Pour batter into a greased and floured 9 inch cake pan. Sprinkle coarse sugar and almonds on top.
- Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 25 minutes. Remove from oven, cool several minutes before turning out of pan.
- Enjoy warm or room temperature!
Notes
- Make a batch of homemade Vanilla Sugar for this recipe, and all baking.
- Swedish Almond Cake can be enjoyed warm or cooled to room temperature. I love it served both ways!
Nutrition
Take a break from the hustle and bustle to enjoy a slice of almond cake and a cup of coffee with a friend. This traditional Swedish cake is easy to make with a one-of-a-kind texture and delightful almond flavor.
Oh yum! This is right up my alley!
What kind of flour? Since you didn’t use baking powder or baking soda I would assume self-rising but would like to be sure before trying to make it. Thanks! It sounds wonderful!
Actually it is all purpose flour! No leaveners needed!
Does that mean plain flour in Australia?
I used to work next to a Swedish bakery that made the most divine little almond things called ‘Almond Boats’ … the boat part (crust, maybe ½ in. thick) appeared to be something between a pastry and a cookie, whilst the filling part was very moist, dense, almond flavored and, whilst still warm, lightly frosted in a delicate almond glaze. I don’t think I’ve ever tasted anything quite so good, and long to find the recipe. Oh, they were baked in a form that resembled the shape of a little boat that was pointed on both ends, measuring approx. 3 & 1/2 inches in length, and maybe 2 inches deep. Have you ever heard of them? I’m going to try your recipe right this minute, and see if it is anywhere near what I remember. If you know the ‘Almond Boat’ recipe would it be possible to let me know where to find it. Thanks so much for sharing this one!
Sounds like mazariner. They are divine.
This looks so delightful. I will pin it!
I featured this recipe in my “Top Ten CRAFTS I loved this week #6” {Food}.
It looks sooo yummy!!
Thanks!
http://cosiendoycriando.blogspot.com/
PS:It is also a linking party, so you can link up another craft!!
Looks and sounds divine! Definitely a must-try for me.
With all the blog parties out there, and at one of the busiest times of the year, it means an awful lot that you take the time to share your talent on “A Little Birdie Told Me…” Tuesdays at Rook No. 17!
Jenn
wow luv luv this beautiful cake.
Would luv for my readers to discover your blog, will you please join our weekly party at
http://www.passionatelyartistic.com/2011/11/thanksgiving-showcase-tutorial-with.html
have a great crafting week!
Maggie
http://passionatelyartistic.com
It is a beautiful cake. I love the way slivered almonds look in desserts. I’ll definitely add this to my to-do list. Thanks for sharing on Sweet Indulgences Sunday.
Looks delicious! I love anything almond.
Oh I love anything almond, such a pretty cake and simple too, love that.
Thanks for linking up the Newlyweds recipe linky hope to see you next week!
ps: I pinned this recipe.
This looks simple yet beautiful!! Thanks for sharing!
Stopping by via Newlyweds recipe linky!
I love anything almond, so this is right up my alley. Thanks for posting! Now my mouth is watering (:
@PB&P- you can find my recipe for vanilla sugar here…https://www.shugarysweets.com/lemon-knots.html
I know some specialty stores sell it. However, you could just use granulated sugar and add 1/2 vanilla bean scraped, or vanilla extract to the recipe. Both work great!
This looks so good and moist! I love almonds. I never heard of vanilla sugar, where would you find that? I don’t ever recall seeing it at the grocery store.
Oh, gosh this is perfect! I love almonds and have been wanting to make an almond cake. Thanks for the great recipe.
yummy yummy..Delicious..
My Blog
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This sounds so tasty! I needed something to make for a meeting tomorrow morning, now I know what I’ll be bringing. Thanks for sharing!
I am headed over right now so we can have coffee and cake together:-) I love when a recipe is super easy to make but looks like you took hours to prepare. I am sure your friend enjoyed every bite of this yumminess!!!
This looks so elegant on your cake stand with the gold ribbon — beautiful! (You’re right — you’d never know it was so easy to make — thanks!) I’ve always wanted to try Sacher Torte, too, but I could be happy eating this Almond Cake for a long time… 🙂
I love simple cakes! Yours looks divine! One that will pair so well with my coffee!