Sunday 21 October 2018

Macaroon Loaf


I am sharing a lovely teatime treat with you today in the form of a beautiful sweet loaf cake!  This is a vanilla cake with a tasty almond macaroon filling.  NOM NOM NOM!


This is actually a recipe I have promised myself to bake since 1986!  It only took me thirty two years!  I can't believe that, but its true!  Why did I wait so long! 




The year is 1986 and I am a young mum, aged 31 with four children and a fifth one on the way.  I buy my very first store purchased baking book.  I have never owned a cookbook like this before.  I remember it being a bit of a bargain. Our local book shop used to have a table of books with prices cut every now and then.  This was on that table.



You all know of the fondness I have for red and white toadstools.  I bought this book on the strength of this recipe alone . . . Dainty Toadstools.  A vanilla sugar cookie topped with sweet cherries and blanched almonds, decorated to look toadstools.  I wanted to make them for my middle son's nursery school Christmas party. (This was before nut allergies, etc.)   I did make them, and they were a hit.



I have had this recipe for Macaroon Loaf flagged ever since.  The photo in the book looked incredibly delicious.  It was a bit faffy however, and I never quite got around to it.  It involved making a regular cake batter and then making an almond macaroon batter and then filling the centre of the unbaked cake with that same filling. 


Our almond meal over here is made from blanched almonds, which is why it looks white instead of toasty brown.  Not quite the look given in the loaf in the book, but I can promise you it is quite delicious nevertheless! 



As I said filling it with the macaroon filling was a bit faffy, but not un-doable. You just need to be persistent.  I am a stubborn person and was not going to let it defeat me  . . . 



As fast as I made the trough for the filling the cake would start filling the trough in.  I kept at it however, and although I did not get a truly deep trough of macaroon filling  . . .


I did get some . . .  as you can see, not deep and more or less kind of spread somewhat over the top, but quite delicious . . .  I promise you!


This is the kind of cake that begs to be enjoyed with copious cups of hot steaming tea.  I love the red fruit herbal teas myself, but peppermint is also nice. 



Mmmm . . .  it was very good.  Just don't over bake it or it will end up dry.  This is one of those stodgy almost pound cake types of cakes.  Break out the kettle and start warming the tea pot. You are going to love this!


Yield: Makes 1 large loaf

Macaroon Loaf

prep time: 15 minscook time: 1 hourtotal time: 1 hours and 15 mins
A delicious vanilla cake with an almond macaroon filling which baked right into the cake.

ingredients:

For the cake:
180g softened butter (3/4 cup)
125g granulated sugar (2/3 cup)
2 large free range eggs
2 large free range egg yolks
1 tsp vanilla extract
280g plain flour (2 cup)
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
120ml milk (1/2 cup)

For the macaroon filling:
2 large free range egg whites
43g icing sugar, sifted (1/3 cup)
85g ground almonds (1 cup, almond meal)
1/2 tsp almond extract

instructions:

Preheat the oven to 165*C/325*F/ gas mark 3.  Butter a 9 by 5 inch loaf tin and line with paper.  Set aside.

Cream
 together the butter, sugar, eggs, egg yolks and vanilla for the cake
until creamy.  Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt.  Add to
the creamed mixture alternately with the milk.  spread the batter into
the prepared loaf tin.

Whisk the egg whites
until stiff but not dry.  Sift in the powdered sugar and beat until
thick and glossy and stiff.  Fold in the almond extract and almonds. 
Using the back of a spoon make a deep trough, two inches wide, down the
middle of the batter in the pan. Spoon the almond mixture into the
trough. (This is the hard part, but be persistent.) 

Bake
 for 60 to 65 minutes until risen and a toothpick inserted in the centre
 comes out clean.  Leave to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then lift
out and leave to cool completely on a wire rack.  Cut into slices to
serve.
Created using The Recipes Generator



As I sit here this morning, I am thinking that this would also be very nice spread with some jam.  Just saying  . . .  Happy Sunday and Bon Appetit! 



8 comments

  1. This sounds delicious and would make an interesting cake for an afternoon tea. I can't indulge in this one as it has way too many eggs. It looks scrumptious.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This sounds unusual and quite delicious. I'm going to give it a try this week. I also have a couple of recipes in older books that I've been meaning to try for many years, but somehow never get around to it. With online recipes, it's easier as I keep a bookmark tab of recipes I want to do and look through it each week to plan out my cooking. That way I don't miss making something, plus they are often seasonal recipes, published just when the fruit or vegetable is at its best. The internet has certainly made that bit easier.

    And I thought of you yesterday and today as I made up my annual batch of fruit mince and made my fruit cake and plum puddings for Christmas. Baking with a friend's recipe is like having them in the kitchen with you while you work.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, how I love that thought Marie! It IS like having a friend right with you in the Kitchen! You are on the ball having those things done already! I have some older books that I am trying to make use of before its too late! xoxo

      Delete
  3. It looks really tasty! I wonder if piping the filling down the middle with a large nozzle after the rest of the batter is in would work? Either way, its the taste that counts, can't wait to try it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That sounds like a great idea Jane! Now why didn't I think of that! Thank YOU! xoxo

      Delete
  4. Oh this and a cuppa:) I find your prettier:)Love new recipes..and old..macarons are getting to be off by heart for me now:)
    Still surprised when one says a macaroon for a macaron.A quirk of mine;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know they are two very different things Monique! I have never made Macaron. It is on my bucket list. I know. ME=Very late to the party! xoxo

      Delete

Thanks for stopping by. I love to hear from you so do not be shy!


BEFORE LEAVING A COMMENT OR RATING, ASK YOURSELF:
Did you make the recipe as directed? Recipe results are not guaranteed when changes have been made.

Is this comment helpful to other readers? Rude or hateful comments will not be approved. Remember that this website is run by a real person.

Are you here to complain about ads? Please keep in mind that I develop these recipes and provide them to you for free. Advertising helps to defray my cost of doing so, and allows me to continue to post regular fresh content.

Thanks so much for your understanding! I appreciate you!