It's astonishing how buttery this cake tastes, given that there is not a gram of butter in it. The flour is replaced with ground almonds - and cooked, cooled, pureed fruit provides moistness and flavour.
For US cup measures, use the toggle at the top of the ingredients list.
It's astonishing how buttery this cake tastes, given that there is not a gram of butter in it. The flour is replaced with ground almonds - and cooked, cooled, pureed fruit provides moistness and flavour.
For US cup measures, use the toggle at the top of the ingredients list.
Peel, core and chop the apples roughly. Put them in a saucepan with the lemon juice and sugar and bring the pan to a bubble over a medium heat. Cover the pan and cook over a low heat for about 10 minutes or until you can mash the apple to a rough puree with a wooden spoon or fork. (You should have about 285g / 1 generous cup of puree.) Leave to cool.
Preheat the oven to Gas mark 4/180ºC/160ºC Fan/350ºF; oil a 25cm / 10 inch springform tin with almond or a flavourless vegetable oil and line the bottom with baking parchment.
Put the cooled puree in the processor with the eggs, ground almonds, caster sugar and 1 tablespoon - or generous squeeze - of lemon juice and blitz to a puree. Pour and scrape, with a rubber spatula for ease, into the prepared tin, sprinkle the flaked almonds on top, and bake for 45 minutes. It's worth checking after 35 minutes, as ovens do vary, and you might well find its cooked earlier - or indeed you may need to give a few minutes longer.
Put on a wire rack to cool slightly, then spring open. This cake is best served slightly warm, though still good cold.
As you bring it to the table, push a teaspoon of icing sugar through a fine sieve to give a light dusting.
Peel, core and chop the apples roughly. Put them in a saucepan with the lemon juice and sugar and bring the pan to a bubble over a medium heat. Cover the pan and cook over a low heat for about 10 minutes or until you can mash the apple to a rough puree with a wooden spoon or fork. (You should have about 285g / 1 generous cup of puree.) Leave to cool.
Preheat the oven to Gas mark 4/180ºC/160ºC Fan/350ºF; oil a 25cm / 10 inch springform tin with almond or a flavourless vegetable oil and line the bottom with baking parchment.
Put the cooled puree in the processor with the eggs, almond meal, superfine sugar and 1 tablespoon - or generous squeeze - of lemon juice and blitz to a puree. Pour and scrape, with a rubber spatula for ease, into the prepared tin, sprinkle the slivered almonds on top, and bake for 45 minutes. It's worth checking after 35 minutes, as ovens do vary, and you might well find its cooked earlier - or indeed you may need to give a few minutes longer.
Put on a wire rack to cool slightly, then spring open. This cake is best served slightly warm, though still good cold.
As you bring it to the table, push a teaspoon of confectioners' sugar through a fine sieve to give a light dusting.
This is one of my all-time favorite Nigella recipes. I like to eat this cake warm with a cup of milky tea. It is so comforting on a cold winter night. I find the recipe perfect and would not change a thing.
Posted by Arvona on 8th April 2020
I've baked this a few times, the first time following the original recipe then afterwards using only 190g of sugar and 6 eggs (maintaining the original quantity of almonds). It's still deliciously moist and sweet enough for my fairly sweet tooth.
I also add a drop of rum or calvados to the mixture.
Posted by Anne48 on 3rd November 2019
I added 1/4 tsp baking powder but I don’t think it was needed. Very moist and yummy cake. But the key is to whizz the ingredients in the blender as per the instructions...don’t miss that step!
Posted by Deenz on 3rd May 2019
I made this in two separate 8 inches cake tins, then created a filling with leftover lemon curd, mascarpone and whipped cream. Sprinkled powdered sugar on top. This has become one of my favorite cakes!
Posted by Joseevt47 on 22nd April 2019
Add stevia if you are worried about the sugar.
Posted by maggiemay51 on 8th April 2018
This works very well halved and baked in a nine-inch springform. I added a teaspoon of vanilla. It's a great way to use up overripe mushy pears. A toothpick will lie to you about whether it's done, as will the touch-test because it's so dense; leave it in longer than you think you need to and take it out when the top is golden brown. Toast up slices of it for crunchy edges to contrast with the fudgy texture.
Posted by rosefox on 21st September 2017
Has anyone made this cake and successfully cut the amount of sugar used? I am struggling with the idea of adding this volume of sugar.
Posted by twittrock on 13th September 2017
I needed a gluten free Victoria sponge recipe for my daughter's second birthday. I made this recipe without the flaked almonds on top - also folding in the separated egg whites whisked, as others have suggested - and then once cooled cut in half to fill with whipped cream and jam, and topped with whipped cream and strawberries. It was delicious. So light and fresh, tall and stable, no sinking in the middle and everyone loved it. Better than the original Victoria sponge I think. One change would be to bake it in two sandwich tins not one big tin, as it creates such a volume of cake it got quite dark on the outside by the time it was cooked in the middle.
Posted by Richiau on 13th August 2017
I've just made this cake using the suggestion to separate the eggs. Very light, moist and tasty. I did a lot of gluten free cooking for my teashop customers in cornwall. This would have gone down well even for those who do not require gluten free. Tested it on my Mum but did not tell her it is GF. She loved it. I will be trying some more recipes even though I don't need GF myself.
Posted by meadowsprite on 1st February 2016
Works really well, delicious cake- I whipped up the egg whites and folded in, result is a lovely light cake, works well every time! Lined the cake tin with baking parchment, no problem sticking. Very quick and easy to make. Love it!!
Posted by lhr on 5th February 2016
This cake is delicious, easy to make and the ingredients are things you'd already have in the cupboard. Lovely dense, moist texture. Really pleased to have found this recipe.
Posted by fitsinashoe on 4th December 2014
I make this cake often, people never guess it's gluten and dairy free. I have also made it with xylitol for diabetics and it tastes just as good... The ultimate in cakes for those with allergies etc :)
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What 19 Others have said
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Posted by Arvona on 8th April 2020
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Posted by Anne48 on 3rd November 2019
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Posted by Deenz on 3rd May 2019
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Posted by Joseevt47 on 22nd April 2019
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Posted by maggiemay51 on 8th April 2018
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Posted by rosefox on 21st September 2017
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Posted by twittrock on 13th September 2017
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Posted by Richiau on 13th August 2017
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Posted by meadowsprite on 1st February 2016
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Posted by lhr on 5th February 2016
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Posted by fitsinashoe on 4th December 2014
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Posted by MirandaB on 22nd November 2014
Show more commentsThis is one of my all-time favorite Nigella recipes. I like to eat this cake warm with a cup of milky tea. It is so comforting on a cold winter night. I find the recipe perfect and would not change a thing.
I've baked this a few times, the first time following the original recipe then afterwards using only 190g of sugar and 6 eggs (maintaining the original quantity of almonds). It's still deliciously moist and sweet enough for my fairly sweet tooth. I also add a drop of rum or calvados to the mixture.
I added 1/4 tsp baking powder but I don’t think it was needed. Very moist and yummy cake. But the key is to whizz the ingredients in the blender as per the instructions...don’t miss that step!
I made this in two separate 8 inches cake tins, then created a filling with leftover lemon curd, mascarpone and whipped cream. Sprinkled powdered sugar on top. This has become one of my favorite cakes!
Add stevia if you are worried about the sugar.
This works very well halved and baked in a nine-inch springform. I added a teaspoon of vanilla. It's a great way to use up overripe mushy pears. A toothpick will lie to you about whether it's done, as will the touch-test because it's so dense; leave it in longer than you think you need to and take it out when the top is golden brown. Toast up slices of it for crunchy edges to contrast with the fudgy texture.
Has anyone made this cake and successfully cut the amount of sugar used? I am struggling with the idea of adding this volume of sugar.
I needed a gluten free Victoria sponge recipe for my daughter's second birthday. I made this recipe without the flaked almonds on top - also folding in the separated egg whites whisked, as others have suggested - and then once cooled cut in half to fill with whipped cream and jam, and topped with whipped cream and strawberries. It was delicious. So light and fresh, tall and stable, no sinking in the middle and everyone loved it. Better than the original Victoria sponge I think. One change would be to bake it in two sandwich tins not one big tin, as it creates such a volume of cake it got quite dark on the outside by the time it was cooked in the middle.
I've just made this cake using the suggestion to separate the eggs. Very light, moist and tasty. I did a lot of gluten free cooking for my teashop customers in cornwall. This would have gone down well even for those who do not require gluten free. Tested it on my Mum but did not tell her it is GF. She loved it. I will be trying some more recipes even though I don't need GF myself.
Works really well, delicious cake- I whipped up the egg whites and folded in, result is a lovely light cake, works well every time! Lined the cake tin with baking parchment, no problem sticking. Very quick and easy to make. Love it!!
This cake is delicious, easy to make and the ingredients are things you'd already have in the cupboard. Lovely dense, moist texture. Really pleased to have found this recipe.
I make this cake often, people never guess it's gluten and dairy free. I have also made it with xylitol for diabetics and it tastes just as good... The ultimate in cakes for those with allergies etc :)