Apricot Snacking Cake
This simple and tender cake is prepared entirely in the food processor, with juicy apricots, fragrant vanilla and nutty almond flour, which accentuates the fruity flavor. The apricots add natural tartness to balance the rich, buttery cake, but the cake also works well with other stone fruits, like peaches, plums and nectarines. It’s an ideal recipe for using overripe fruits, if you've bought too many and can't eat them fast enough. Perfect for breakfast with coffee or tea, this snacking cake is a great pick-me-up treat any time of day. For dessert, toast the slices and serve warm topped with whipped cream, ice cream or macerated fruit.
- Total:
- Serves: 9 persons
Ingredients
- 6tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch cubes, plus more for greasing pan
- ½cup/55 grams sliced almonds
- ½cup/105 grams granulated sugar
- ½packed cup/70 grams light brown sugar
- 1teaspoon baking powder
- ½teaspoon baking soda
- ¼teaspoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
- 2large eggs
- 2teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1cup/142 grams all-purpose flour
- ¾cup/72 grams fine almond flour
- 8ounces ripe apricots, halved, pitted, then each half quartered
- Honey, whipped cream or ice cream, for serving (optional)
Instructions
Step 1
Set a rack in the middle position of the oven and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-5-inch metal loaf pan with butter.Step 2
On a rimmed baking sheet, spread almonds into a single layer and toast in the oven until golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a plate to cool.Step 3
Meanwhile, in the bowl of a food processor, combine the 6 tablespoons butter, both sugars, the baking powder, baking soda and salt, and pulse until butter is pea-size. Add eggs and vanilla, and pulse until well blended. Add both flours and pulse, scraping down the sides of the bowl, until well incorporated. Add apricots and pulse until fruit is finely chopped and mixture is almost smooth.Step 4
Using a spoon or flexible spatula, stir in toasted almonds. Scrape mixture into prepared pan and smooth top.Step 5
Bake until cake is golden on top and firm in the center, 40 to 45 minutes. Transfer to a rack and cool for 30 minutes. Slide a paring knife or small offset spatula along the sides of the pan to loosen the cake, then turn out cake and cool completely (or until lukewarm).Step 6
Slice the cake and enjoy it drizzled with honey, topped with whipped cream or ice cream, or as is.