RASPBERRY ALMOND TORTE

Grandma came across this ultra-simple raspberry almond torte, during a visit to South Africa and has loved it ever since. This recipe is loved by all, especially Leo who adores raspberries! If you don’t have raspberries try sweet or tart fresh cherries instead, but they will need to be pitted.

Almond torte serves 6
2 cups/250 g raspberries
1 cup/125 g flour
1½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
2/3 cup/140 g butter
¾ cup/150 g sugar
1 egg
1¼ cups/150 g ground almonds
Confectioners’ sugar for sprinkling
8-inch/20-cm springform pan

1. Butter the cake pan, line the base with wax or parchment paper, and then butter and flour it. Wash the raspberries, dry them on paper towels. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Heat the oven to 350˚F/175˚C and set a shelf in the center.

2. Cream the butter until smooth in an electric mixer. Add the sugar and continue to beat until soft and light, 2-3 minutes. Beat in the egg until well mixed, about 1 minute. Using a large metal spoon, stir in the ground almonds, followed by the flour mixture. (Expect the batter to be quite stiff.)

3. Spread half the batter in the cake pan. Sprinkle the fruit on top and dot with the remaining batter so the fruit is almost covered. Bake until the torte starts to shrink from the sides of the pan and the top is firm when lightly pressed with a fingertip, 45-55 minutes. The top will be rustic looking, like a crumble.

4. Let the torte cool for 10-15 minutes, in the pan, then loosen the sides and slide the torte onto a rack to cool completely. Sprinkle it with confectioners’ sugar and serve it warm or at room temperature.