Almond Pound Cake

Very rich! One of my favourite cakes. This is good dressed up with frosting, served plain, or with fruit. I quadrupled this recipe, and baked it in two 9"x13" pans to make a cake for my father's 65th birthday party. Note: be sure the almonds are finely ground; if they seem somewhat coarse you should run them through the food processor until quite fine.

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1  cup sugar
• 3⁄4 cup butter
• 3  large eggs
• 1  teaspoon  almond extract
• 3  tablespoons water
• 1  cup flour
• 1  cup  blanched  ground almonds
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F.
2. Butter and flour a loaf pan or small square pan (8"x8").
3. Cream the butter and sugar.
4. Beat in the eggs one at a time.
5. Beat in the almond extract and the water.
6. Stir together the flour, ground almonds and baking powder.
7. Stir this into the wet ingredients.
8. Pour evenly into the prepared pan.
9. Bake for 45 minutes for a loaf pan.
10. Bake for 50 minutes in the square pan, or in either case until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.