Chocolate Topped Almond One Layer Cake

Total Time: 1 hr 35 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 20 mins

Ingredients

• 4 ounces almonds, toasted
• 1/2 cup sugar, plus
• 2 tablespoons sugar, divided
• 1/3 cup unbleached flour
• 1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine, softened
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 eggs
• 1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon slivered almonds, toasted

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350 degrees. lightly grease and flour a 9" round cake pan.
• 2 place almonds in a small baking dish and place in oven until lightly toasted.
• 3 place toasted almonds and 2 t sugar in a food processor or blender. grind to a powder in a few short bursts.
• 4 stir in flour and set aside.
• 5 combine butter with remaining 1/2 cup sugar, extracts, and salt in a medium size bowl.
• 6 beat with mixer until creamy.
• 7 add one egg at a time, beating well after each.
• 8 using a spatula and a light hand, gently fold in the almond flour mixture.
• 9 pour into prepared cake pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until it is golden and top springs back when lightly touched.
• 10 let cool for 30 minutes, then remove cake from pan and transfer to cake plate, then cool completely.
• 11 in microwave on low power, melt chocolate chips.
• 12 sift a little powder sugar over top of cake, sprinkle with remaining toasted almonds and then drizzle the chocolate over top in a lacey pattern. let chocolate harden before serving.