Prize Winning Almond Bundt Cake

I entered this bundt cake of mine this past weekend into a baking contest at our local gourmet food store. It took home 2nd place--plus the bakery is going to start making it along side of their other "gourmet" cakes!! I am so excited--thought I would share it with everyone!

• Ready In: 1 hr 15 mins
• Serves: 8-12
• Yields: 8-12 slices

Ingredients

• 2 1⁄2 cups sugar
• 2  eggs
• 2 1⁄2 teaspoons  almond extract
• 1 1⁄3 cups milk
• 1  cup butter, softened at room temperature
• 2 1⁄2 cups flour
• 1  teaspoon baking powder
• 1⁄4 teaspoon cinnamon
•  chopped  almonds
•  raw sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F; grease and flour a bundt pan.
2. Beat sugar, egg, almond extract, milk and softened butter together.
3. Gradually add flour, baking powder and cinnamon.
4. In bottom of greased bundt pan, sprinkle almonds and raw sugar to make a nice crunchy topping.
5. Pour cake batter over almonds/sugar.
6. Bake for 50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean from center of cake.
7. Cool for 15-20 minutes, then remove from pan.
8. Cool on wire rack.
9. Serve warm or cooled - your preference.