30/30 - #10 Gluten Free Almond Cake

Down to the final 10 favorite recipes!! I couldn't think of a better recipe to kick off the top 10 than this Gluten Free Almond Cake. I love it, love it! 

First posted on Kettler Cuisine on my birthday last year, it was, and still is the perfect birthday cake for anyone. I make this a lot, especially since there are a lot more gluten free folks in my life these days. It is super easy to make and requires 5 ingredients and a cake pan!

The recipe comes from one of my favorite blogs, 101 Cookbooks, which is listed on every bloggers "Inspirations" list. And the key ingredient is almond paste, which is similar to marzipan, but NOT the same thing. I always have Solo-brand almond paste in my pantry now so I can whip up this cake at a moments notice.

The Big 3-0 is getting so close! But before I turn 30, I get to experience something truly amazing, especially for a foodie like me....Food & Wine Classic festival in Aspen! For the next four days, I will be wining and dining with the culinary fields finest 8,000 miles above sea level! Don't worry, my travels won't disrupt the countdown, they just might be a bit shorter. Maybe I will get the Hubby to make this cake for my return and birthday week!

Find the recipe for Gluten Free Almond Cake here. 

Or find the original recipe on 101 Cookbooks here.

Birthday Almond Cake

Birthday Post!!!

Anyone that knows me, understands my affection for birthdays, especially my own! I love to be with friends and family and eat cake. I didn't want to squander all the hard work I have made over the last several months going gluten free, so decided to make a gluten free cake. At first, I didn't have high expectations, but then I discovered serenity/paradise.

I came across Heidi's almond cake recipe and realized that it was gluten free. I was very hesitant at first since it only had 5 ingredients, but after making this cake was blown away at how delicious it was! It had a very similar consistency of a pound cake, but not nearly as bad for you!

Yum Yum and Happy Birthday :)

Almond Birthday Cake with Buttermilk Glaze

Recipe from 101 Cookbooks

Yields: 3 cups cake batter or one 8-inch cake
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes

2 tubes of almond paste (14 ounces total or about 1 1/2 cups)
5 large eggs, whisked
45 grams (about 1/4 cup) corn starch
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons buttermilk
Seeds of 1 vanilla bean

Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease an 8-inch pan or bundt pan very well. 

Break the almond paste into a food processor and pulse a few times until small pebble-size pieces form. Add in the eggs and process until smooth. Add in the cornstarch and salt, pulse a few times, then add in butter and pulse a few times more. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and bake for 35-40 minutes until a deep golden. Test the cake with a toothpick (should come out clean). Let the cake cook in the pan on a cooling rack for 20-30 minutes, then remove from the pan.

To prepare the glaze, whisk all the ingredients together until free of lumps. The consistency should be thicker so it will stay on the cake.

Oatmeal Nut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Today is a special day. A special sweet little girl turns 2!!

Two years ago, Ryan and I got to meet our sweet Goddaughter for the first time. Avery has been such a blessing in our lives, always bringing us joy. Can you tell by my cheesy smile how happy she makes me...

Since that amazing day in the hospital when we first got to hold her, we have watched her grow into an intelligent, sweet little girl. Of course our little princess has her Diva moments, but she is surrounded by a family that loves her, which only makes her project more love!

Little Avery LOVES her sweets, so in celebration of her second birthday, we thought we would make special cookies, for a special little girl! Bonus, these cookies just happen to be gluten free!

We can't wait to officially celebrate with everyone this weekend and many more special memories with Avery.

Happy Birthday Avery! Uncle Ryan and Aunt Jessie love you!!

Oatmeal Nut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Adapted from Trader Joe's recipe

Yields: 24-36 cookies
Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 12 minutes

¼ cup butter, room temperature

1 ¼ tsp baking soda

½ cup sugar

3 cups TJ’s gluten free rolled oats

½ cup brown sugar

6 oz chocolate chips

2 eggs

½ cup sunflower seeds or chopped nut

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup peanut butter or almond butter

Preheat oven to 350F. In a large bowl, combine sugar, brown sugar and butter and beat until creamy. Add eggs, vanilla and baking soda and mix well. Add peanut butter and mix. Stir in oats, chocolate chips and seeds or nuts. Place tablespoon full of dough on a lightly greased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake 12 minutes until lightly brown around edges.