It’s a brand-new year and a brand-new I am a Food Blog! Okay, not completely brand-new, but Mike did do a little re-design, which you can read a little bit about here. The start of a new year usually means that people are on the look out for recipes that just a wee bit healthier. I’m not really one to be all fanatical about the healthy stuff, but I do think this cake is nice, light and perfect if you’re looking for something sweet but not too crazy after all of your holiday indulgences. Plus, starting off the new year with cake for breakfast is something I can definitely get behind.
This cake is tender, lemon-y, and light (due to the whipped egg whites). If you don’t have any almond flour on hand, you can always use your food processor to make some, but I like having a bag kicking around in my pantry. Almond flour is great for the obvious (macaron) and the not so obvious (almond chicken fingers). I get the feeling that people think that almond flour is a specialty sort of ingredient – mostly for gluten-free baked goods – but the truth is, I really like baked goods made with almond flour. It lends a moistness and chewy texture that I’m really in to.
Other things I’m really in to: New Year’s Resolutions. Are you guys resolution types? When I was younger, I never really believed in them, but now that time keeps marching on, I like to take some time at the end/beginning of the year to reflect on what I’ve accomplished and what I want to focus on. 2014 was a crazy year and I’m hoping 2015 will be just as wild. My 2015 resolution: be fearless. Two tiny words, but I’m hoping that this year is the year I learn to judge myself less, be a little more secure, and live my life without reservations.
Cheers to fresh starts, learning to love ourselves, gluten-free lemon loafs, and to a brand-spanking-new 2015!
Gluten-Free Lemon Almond Cake Recipe slightly adapted from Simply Recipes
makes 1 small loaf
- 2 eggs
- zest from 2 meyer lemons
- 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons sugar
- 3/4 cup almond flour/ground almonds
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/8 tsp cardamom
- pinch of salt
- thyme sprigs, lemon slices and powdered sugar, to serve
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Lightly butter or grease your loaf pan (I used a small loaf pan, similar to these).
Separate your eggs carefully: yolks into a medium-sized bowl and whites going into a large absolutely grease-free bowl. You need to make sure the bowl of whites have absolutely no fat – this will help them whip up nice and fluffy. Lightly beat the yolks and add the zest and 2 tablespoons of sugar. Mix until smooth. Add the ground almonds, baking powder, and cardamom. Mix until smooth.
With an electric mixer, or good old fashioned elbow grease, whip up the egg whites until they start foaming. Sprinkle on a pinch of salt, which will help the structure of the whites. As they start increasing in volume, sprinkle on the remaining 2 teaspoons of sugar into the eggs as you beat until soft to medium peaks form.
Fold a small amount of the whites into the yolk mixture being sure not to over mix. Gradually fold in all the whites, a bit at a time, being sure not to deflate. You should have a light and fluffy batter. Pour the batter into your prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool. Lightly dust with icing sugar and enjoy with thinly sliced lemons and thyme sprigs.
I am absolutely in love with your photography. Gorgeous loaf! oh and that type is LOVE.
Love this recipe! so light and you wouldn’t be able to tell its gluten free!
I have just made this lemon cake, and without a doubt it was so delicious and ingenious!! My husband is trying to avoid wheat so this fit the bill as a sweet treat!! Thanks
Delicious dessert! I did have to add a bit more egg (about 1/4) to the batter before adding the egg whites. Served with fresh raspberries and sweetened whipped cream. Everyone loved it and they are not a gluten free crowd. Will make it again-as my husband is gluten free.
So there’s no oil/butter in this recipe at all?
hi ed, that’s right – the fat is from the eggs!
Not sure if I will make this again as the amount is really a teaser haha for the work it takes! Taste was lovely with regular lemons vs Meyer plus I added a couple tsps fresh chopped lemon thyme, wow. I’m glad I read many many comments first because I ended up adding 1/4 c real maple syrup before folding in the eggs, as someone recommended, otherwise you’re dealing with a very stiff cookie dough. It turned out great texture so I can’t imagine that without the maple syrup it would have been anything but a waste of pricey ingredients! Definitely not too sweet either nor too wet. There ya go!
Thank you for this recipe. I just made it and with out the cardamon, did not have any in the pantry so I went ahead and made without it. to my surprise it was superb, light but very moist. I will make it again this coming weekend for the community garden sign up day. Thank you very much.