AMARETTO ALMOND CAKE RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, with the baking rack positioned in the lower third of the oven. Grease a 10 to 12-cup capacity bundt pan with baking spray.In a mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, combine sugar, almond paste, and lemon zest, mixing until paste is broken up into pea-sized pieces (use your hands if necessary or if your almond paste is on the hard side; you can also do this in a food processor).Add butter and beat until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes.Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl once or twice as you go. After you’ve added the final egg, increase the mixer to high and beat for 3 minutes. Add almond extract and amaretto and mix to combine.In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. In another small bowl or a 2-cup capacity measuring cup with spout, whisk together milk and sour cream.With the mixer running on low, add half of flour mixture until almost incorporated. Mix in half of milk mixture, followed by remaining flour, mixing until just combined. Scrape down the bowl as needed. Finally add the rest of the liquid and mix on low until just incorporated. The batter will be quite thick, but smooth.Spoon or scoop dollops batter into the greased bundt pan, distributing it evenly around the pan. Place the bundt pan on a baking sheet (just in case) and bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until top is light golden brown and a long, thin skewer inserted in the thickest part comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached, no gooey batter.Remove from the oven and place on a wire cooling rack for 15 to 20 minutes, then gently invert the cake onto a wire rack. It should come out cleanly. Let cool completely before glazing.To make the ganache, place chopped chocolate in a heat-proof bowl or a 2-cup glass measuring cup with a spout for easy pouring.In a small saucepan, heat cream over medium heat until it just starts to bubble and steam. Pour over chopped chocolate. Let sit for 30 seconds, then gently whisk, starting in the center and moving out in concentric circles, until chocolate is fully melted and smooth. Whisk in amaretto. Let cool for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until glaze has thickened slightly (it should still be pourable, but shouldn’t totally run down the sides).Set cooled cake on wire rack inside a baking sheet (to catch any overflow). Pour glaze over top of cake, letting it drizzle down the sides. Let set for a few minutes before slicing and serving. Any overflow ganache can be scraped off the cookie sheet and used for something else, or served alongside the sliced cake for those who want extra chocolate.Store leftover cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. You can also freeze the unglazed cake, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and/or in an airtight bag, for up to 1 month. Let thaw completely before glazing.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Line bottoms of 3 greased 9-in. round baking pans with parchment; grease paper., In a bowl, whisk flour and baking powder. In another bowl, whisk sour cream, milk and amaretto until blended. In a large bowl, cream butter, shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in extracts. Add flour mixture alternately with sour cream mixture, beating well after each addition., Transfer batter to prepared pans. Bake 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks; remove paper. Cool completely., In a large bowl, beat butter, vanilla and salt until creamy. Beat in enough confectioners' sugar, alternately with amaretto, to reach desired consistency. Reserve 2/3 cup frosting for piping., Place 1 cake layer on a serving plate; spread with 1/2 cup frosting. Top with remaining cake layer. Frost top and sides with remaining frosting., Pipe reserved frosting around bottom edge of cake. If desired, decorate cake with flowers, using almonds for petals and M&M's for the centers. Pipe designs on frosting with melted chocolate as desired.