This recipe is simple and perfect for both novice and experienced bakers. It’s a great way to practice your baking skills with a high chance of success. The basic recipe is wonderful on its own, but it also allows for creativity. Add your favourite nuts or fruits to make it your own.
Ingredients:
- 175g softened butter, plus extra for greasing
- 175g golden castor sugar
- 3 large eggs
- Grated zest of 1 lemon
- A few drops of vanilla extract
- 200g self-raising flour
- 50g ground almonds
Method:
Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) or 160°C for fan ovens. Grease and line a 20cm x 10cm loaf tin with baking paper.
In a mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and golden icing sugar until pale and fluffy.
Add the eggs one at a time, whisking in a little flour at a time to prevent the mixture from curdling. Stir in the lemon zest and vanilla extract.
Fold in the remaining flour and ground almonds until smooth.
Pour the mixture into the prepared loaf tin and smooth down the top with a spatula.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 50-60 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.
Once baked, allow the cake to cool briefly in the tin, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
