Chez Panisse Simple Almond Torte Recipes

CHEZ PANISSE ALMOND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and position the rack to the center of the oven.
• Line the bottom of a 9-inch cake pan with a round of parchment paper, or butter the pan and dust it lightly with flour, tapping out any excess.
• With an electric mixer, beat together the sugar and almond paste until the paste is finely broken up (the sugar crystals helps break the paste into pieces-so don't add the butter yet!) 3.
• Now add the butter and beat for a few minutes until light and fluffy.
• In a separate bowl, or a measuring cup with a spout, stir together the eggs with a fork then dribble it into the batter as you beat.
• Add the vanilla.
• Mix together the flour, baking soda and salt with a whisk.
• Stir the dry ingredients into the batter until just incorporated.
• Transfer the batter into the prepared cake pan and bake for about 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
• The baking time may take a but longer due to the variation in different brands of almond paste.
• Cool the cake on a rack before serving.
• This cake is extremely moist and will keep well for up to a week if well-wrapped.

CHEZ PANISSE SIMPLE ALMOND TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (160 degrees C).
• Beat the Granulated Sugar (1 1/4 cup) with the Almond Paste (7 ounce) until the almond paste is in fine pieces. Or, better, pulverize it in a food processor.
• Beat in the Unsalted Butter (1 cup), Vanilla Extract (1 teaspoon) and Almond Extract (1/8 teaspoon) if using, then cream the mixture until it is light and fluffy.
• Beat in the Egg (6), one at a time, beating well after each addition so the eggs are thoroughly mixed in.
• Mix the All-Purpose Flour (1 cup), Baking Powder (1 1/2 teaspoon), and Salt (1/4 teaspoon), and beat in just until thoroughly blended.
• Butter a 9-inch springform pan and turn the batter into it, smoothing the top evenly. Bake for 1 to 1¼ hours (mine baked for 1¼ hours) or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the center feels springy when you push it gently.
• Let cool for about 20 minutes before releasing the sides of the springform pan. Add Powdered Confectioners Sugar (to taste), if preferred.