Lemon Almond Raspberry CakeCove Cake Design

Quick Lemon Raspberry Almond Cake

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Lemon Almond Raspberry CakeQuick Lemon Raspberry Almond Cake

The Cake

This Quick Lemon Raspberry Almond Cake, uses almond paste in the cake batter to make an quick an easy informal cake. I am a lover of anything almond, including almond paste. From my experience however, I know that almond paste is a controversial ingredient. At Christmas time there is always a strong divide between those who love the edge slice of the Christmas cake so they get the most almond paste, and those who avoid it at all costs. I am firmly in the former camp!

This cake is is dense and moist, and with the raspberry and lemon, exceedingly delicious.  With the richness of the almond paste, it is one for the almond lover!

The Lemon Raspberry Almond Cake Recipe

Almond Paste

This cake uses shop-bought almond paste. Almond paste is slightly different from marzipan. The former having a higher almond to sugar ratio, more delicious in my book. Pre-made ingredients are not something I usually recommend, so you may be a little perplexed to find a shop bought item in my ingredients list. However, I do buy almond paste every Christmas to cover my fruit cakes. I find the bought product rolls more readily and avoids having raw egg product in the cakes. I often end up with some leftover, and given that I don’t make fruit cakes outside the Christmas season, this leftover almond paste can end up going to waste. Which is where this recipe comes in.

The Recipe

The recipe is an adaptation of Nigella Lawson’s Easy Almond Cake Recipe from her classic book, How To Be A Domestic Goddess. It certainly is an easy one, basically involving the blending of classic cake ingredients with almond paste…no creaming or whisking and only one vessel to wash up afterwards.

One of my favourite cake flavour combinations is lemon and raspberry, both of which of course work with almond. I hence decided to use this combination in this almond cake by adding fresh lemon zest and raspberries.

You can of course play fast and loose with this cake, choosing ingredients you have to hand, such as marzipan rather than almond paste, or other berries such as cherries or blackberries for the raspberries. An orange version of this cake would also be a great one to try, made by swapping the lemon zest for orange zest.

Serving and Storing

Feel free to decorate this cake with what you have to hand, a dusting of icing sugar with some edible flowers and herbs would work well. A dollop of Greek yogurt would also be a lovely teatime addition.

The cake keeps well at room temperature in an airtight container for 2-3 days.

Lemon Almond Marzipan Raspberry Cake

Quick Lemon Raspberry Almond Cake Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 250g unsalted butter
  • 250g shop-bought almond paste
  • 125g caster sugar
  • 6 medium eggs
  • 150g self-raising flour
  • Finely grated zest 1 lemon
  • 150g raspberries (fresh or frozen)
  • Pinch salt

Method:

  1. Preheat the oven (fan) to 160⁰C/320F. Grease the base and sides of a 22cm/9” springform cake tin and line the base. (I have also made this in a 20cm/8″ tin which worked fine too but the cake was a little more dense)
  2. To make the cake, break or chop up the almond paste and place in a food processor. Blend until broken up a little more. Add the butter and sugar and continue to blend. If the butter is soft it should become smooth. I made this on a rather cold day and the mix was still a little lumpy but the cake worked perfectly. (As I said above, I can be a little fast and loose when home baking!).
  3. Sift the flour into a bowl and add the lemon zest.
  4. Add the eggs to the food processor, one at a time, blending after each addition. You may need to scrape down the sides intermittently.
  5. Add the flour mixture and blend until combined. Scrape down the sides and base of the processor and mix once more to ensure it is well combined.
  6. Scrape the mixture into the prepared tin. Lightly press in the raspberries throughout the cake mixture.
  7. Place the cake in the oven and bake for 55-60 mins before checking. Insert a skewer into the centre. If it comes out clean and the cake is springy on the surface it is cooked. If not then return to the oven and check at 10min intervals until cooked.
  8. Leave to cool for 10-15mins in the tin before removing. When cool, place on a plate or cake stand and sprinkle with icing sugar and any other decoration.

I hope you enjoy this cake, do tag us on social media @covecakedesign with your creations!

Suzanne x

 

Bride and GroomAdam and Grace Photo

Wedding Inspiration – It’s All In The Details

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Wedding Couple

Wedding Inspiration – It’s All In The Details

The quiet months at the start of the year are always a time to not only plan for the year ahead, but also look to back on some of the highlights of the past year. And as I sit at my desk this January looking back on last year, there were indeed many highlights! One of which was being part of a fabulous team of wedding vendors working to make the vision of Aislinn and Tim a reality for their wedding celebrations. Today I am sharing some beautiful images of their day at Virginia Park Lodge, captured by Adam and Grace Photography. For this wedding inspiration, it’s definitely all in the details!

Wedding Inspiration – The Details

The elegance and style that ran throughout Aislinn and Tim’s day started with the timeless stationery by Lenka Calligraphy, which had beautiful detailing including wax seals and silk ribbon.

Guests were greeted at the church by oversized pots and urns of artfully natural flowers in shades of off-white with hints of soft autumn hues, created by the wonderfully talented The Rosehip and Berry.

The groom wore black tie and the bride wore a stunningly elegant dress, designed by herself and created by Emma Beaumont Atelier. Wedding Invitations

Bride and groom outside church

Bride and groom outside church

Wedding Inspiration – Reception Details

The function room at Virginia Park lodge was styled by House of Hannah Events, to create a warm romantic atmosphere on a cold November day. Soft green table linen was the backdrop for displays of florals and fruit by The Rosehip and Berry, on a tablescape that included gold cutlery and stationery by Lenka Calligraphy.  Twinkling lights and an abundance of taper candles in warm neutral tones created a warm and welcoming glow.

Wedding table numbers and flowers

Wedding table decoration

Wedding Inspiration – Cake Details

Aislinn was a delight to work with, having a clear vision for her wedding day and cake. Her dress had the most fabulous of oversized bows on the back of what was an exquisitely elegant gown. It was a natural choice for inspiration for the wedding cake – a simple white cake with silk ribbon by Betty Williamson. They choose delicious flavours of Chocolate Orange Hazelnut Rosemary, and Lemon Blueberry Coconut.

Key to the success of the cake design was of course the styling details. The couple chose to display the cake in the drinks reception area, a great idea to allow guests to see and take photographs of the cake. Three white plinths were used to display the cake, alongside flowers, an abundance of candles, and calligraphy cake flavour cards. Wedding dress with bowWedding cake with silk bosWhite wedding cake display Wedding cake flavour cards

Aislinn and Tim had a clear vision for creating a warm, romantic and elegant wedding day. Thank you so much for asking me to play a little part alongside an incredible team!

Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness together as husband and wife.

For more real weddings and wedding inspiration browse our Inspiration page.

Suzanne, x

Wedding champagne tower