This Italian Almond Cake is soft, moist, and naturally rich with almond flavor, with fresh orange zest adding a bright citrus note. It’s made without wheat flour and finished with a simple dusting of powdered sugar.
The batter comes together with finely ground almonds, eggs, sugar, melted butter, vanilla, and orange zest. Once baked and cooled, the cake has a tender crumb that works just as well for dessert as it does with an afternoon cup of coffee.
If you want another almond-based cake with a completely different texture, my Flourless Almond Cake gets its lighter crumb from whipped egg whites and uses lemon instead of orange. For something richer and chocolatey, Torta Caprese combines ground almonds, dark chocolate, and butter in another flourless Italian-style dessert.
If almonds beside coffee are the real goal, my Homemade Almond Biscotti are crisp and twice-baked, while Easy Lemon Cake is the softer glazed option when citrus sounds particularly good.
Table of contents
Ingredients
How to Make Italian Almond Cake
- Prep the pan. Grease a 9-inch round cake pan and dust with almond flour (or line the bottom with parchment). Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix dry ingredients. In a large bowl mix together ground almonds, baking powder and pinch of salt.
- Whisk eggs and sugar. In another large bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar until pale and a little foamy.
- Add flavor and butter. Add the vanilla extract and orange zest, then whisk in the melted butter.
- Combine. Combine dry almond mixture with wet ingredients and mix until you have a smooth batter.
- Bake. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool and finish. Allow cake to cool; dust with powdered sugar if desired, and slice and serve.
Is This Italian Almond Cake Gluten-Free?
The recipe contains no wheat, rye, or barley ingredients, so the formula itself is made without gluten-containing flour.
For readers preparing it specifically for someone with celiac disease, however, use ingredients labeled gluten-free where relevant—including baking powder and vanilla—and avoid cross-contact with wheat flour in the kitchen.
The FDA defines foods labeled gluten-free as meeting specific ingredient requirements and containing less than 20 ppm gluten. FDA – Gluten and Food Labeling.
What Is Italian Almond Cake?
This version is a simple almond-based cake made with finely ground almonds, eggs, sugar, melted butter, vanilla, and orange zest.
It has no wheat flour and is finished with powdered sugar rather than frosting.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Using ground almonds that are too coarse, which can give the cake a gritty texture.
- Overmixing the batter after adding the almond mixture.
- Adding the melted butter while it is still very hot.
- Skipping the orange zest, which adds freshness and balances the rich almond flavor.
- Baking the cake too long, which can make the crumb dry.
- Removing the cake from the pan before it has cooled slightly.
- Slicing the cake while it is still warm, which can make it crumble.
What to Serve With Italian Almond Cake
Italian almond cake is especially good with hot coffee or espresso, which pairs nicely with the rich almond flavor and fresh orange zest. For dessert, serve it with fresh berries or a small spoonful of lightly whipped cream.
FAQs
Yes. Finely ground almond flour can be used. It may give the cake a slightly finer and softer crumb than more coarsely ground almonds.
This recipe contains no wheat flour or other gluten-containing flour. If you are baking for someone who needs a strict gluten-free diet, check that ingredients such as baking powder and vanilla are labeled gluten-free and avoid cross-contact in the kitchen.
You can reduce it slightly, but sugar contributes to both moisture and texture, so avoid making a large reduction.
The top should be set and lightly golden, and a toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean.
The cake can crumble if the almonds are ground too coarsely or if it is sliced while still warm. Let it cool completely before cutting.
Yes. Let it cool completely, cover it well, and store it until serving. The texture holds up well and the cake can be made a day ahead.
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Italian Almond Cake
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8-inch (20 cm) round cake pan and line the bottom with parchment if desired.
- In a bowl, mix the ground almonds, baking powder, and a pinch of salt.
- In another bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar until pale and slightly foamy.
- Whisk in the vanilla extract and orange zest, then whisk in the melted butter.
- Add the almond mixture to the wet ingredients and stir until smooth.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and level the top.
- Bake for about 30 minutes, or until golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool, dust with powdered sugar if using, slice, and serve.
Nutrition
Video
Notes
- Let the melted butter cool slightly before mixing so the eggs stay smooth.
- For a stronger citrus flavor, add a little extra orange zest.
- If using salted butter, skip the pinch of salt.
- Cool completely before slicing for neat slices.
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