Almond Cake (Badam Cake)

Ingredients

• 3 / 4 cup almond flakes (home – made)
• 1 cup plain flour (maida)
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 cup castor sugar
• 1/4 cup soft butter
• 2 1/2 tsp instant dry yeast (I have used Prime Company yeast)
• 1/4 cup lukewarm milk for kneading the dough
• 1/2 tsp cardamom powder
• 1/4 tsp vanilla essence
• For almond – sugar mixture (topping): 👇
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tbsp milk
• 1/2 tsp cardamom powder
• 1/2 tsp vanilla essence

Steps

1. Sieve plain flour & baking powder in a deep bowl.Make a well in the centre of the flour, add yeast, 1 tsp of castor sugar & 5 – 7 tsp lukewarm milk in it.
2. Mix all the ingredients from the bowl. The mixture will resemble like bread crumbs. Keep aside for 5 minutes.
3. After 5 minutes, add rest of the castor sugar, soft butter, cardamom powder, vanilla essence & mix well with your fingertips. Knead to a soft dough using approx 1/4 cup lukewarm milk. Cover with a lid or wet muslin cloth & keep it aside for 10 minutes. This is 1st proving.
4. Dust the hands with little dry flour & knead again to make it smooth.
5. Place the dough in a greased 7 inch baking tray & spread the dough evenly by patting it using your fingers. Keep it aside in a draft free room.
6. Almond – sugar mixture: Place the almonds in hot water for 10 minutes. Remove the skin & cut the almonds in flakes. Keep aside.
7. Combine sugar, milk, cardamom powder & vanilla essence in a non stick pan.
8. Mix well & cook for 2 minutes or till all the sugar dissolves, stirring all the time.
9. Add the almond flakes & cook the mixture for 30 seconds, stirring all the time.
10. Spread this warm almond – sugar mixture evenly over the spread dough mixture. Cover & keep aside the cake tin (with the mixture) for 10 minutes. This is 2nd. proving.
11. After 10 minutes you will see that the dough has risen to almost double it's size.
12. Bake in a pre – heated oven at 180 c for 35 – 40 minutes or till golden on top.
13. Switch off the oven & let the cake rest in the oven for 3 – 5 minutes. Bring the cake out from the oven & cool a little.
14. Cut the cake into wedges & serve warm with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream or as it is. Here is your healthy & nutritious almond cake which is a special treat in the festive season. Enjoy…….. 😋😋