ALMOND LOAF RECIPES

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven. Rub some butter around the inside of a 500g/1lb loaf tin or insert a baking liner. Cut the cherries into quarters, put them into a bowl, add some warm water and stir to wash off the syrup. Drain the cherries, spread them out onto kitchen paper and pat them dry. Put the cherries into a bowl, sprinkle with cornflour and stir until well mixed. Chop the butter into small cubes. Put the butter cubes and sugar into a mixing bowl and beat together until light and fluffy. Beat in one egg followed by the ground almonds. Beat in the second egg. Sieve the flour into the mixing bowl and mix well. Stir in the cherries. Tip into the prepared tin and smooth the top. Bake for 50-55 minutes. If a cocktail stick pressed into the centre of the cake comes out clean, it is cooked. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then gently turn out onto a wire rack and leave to cool.

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C fan. Grease and line a loaf tin 11 x 21cm, and set aside.

  2. Place the butter, sugar, lemon zest, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and vanilla in the bowl of a free-standing food mixer with the paddle attachment in place. Beat on a high speed for 3–4 minutes, until light, then lower the speed to medium. Add the eggs, in small additions, scraping down the sides of the bowl. The mix may split a little, but don’t worry: it’ll come back together. Add the flour, salt and almonds in three additions. Finally, fold in 150g of blueberries, by hand, and pour into the prepared loaf tin.

  3. Bake for 15 minutes, then sprinkle the remaining 50g of blueberries over the top of the cake. Return to the oven for another 15 minutes, until the cake is golden-brown but still uncooked. Cover loosely with tin foil and continue to bake for 25–30 minutes, until risen and cooked. Test by inserting a knife into the middle: it’s ready if it comes out clean. Remove from the oven and set aside, in its tin, to cool for 10 minutes, then remove from the tin and place on a wire rack to cool completely.

  4. Meanwhile, make the icing. Put the remaining tablespoon of lemon juice into a bowl with the icing sugar and whisk until smooth. Pour over the cake and gently spread out: the blueberries on the top of the cake will bleed into the icing a little, but don’t worry: this will add to the look.