Amaretti Crunchy Cake

My nonna Emilia ate the little amaretti cookies.  She loved the crunch texture of them and they were a treat.  As a kid, I soaked them in milk and loved their flavour.  My Amaretti Crunchy Cake brings me back to those lazy afternoons with Emilia. In between the cooking we would giggle at the table as we dunked cookies in milk and created lasting memories that soothe me to this day.  Whenever I am in the kitchen, I hear and feel my nonna Emilia with me.

I am not a baker and when I bake it has to be easy and with ingredients that I have in my pantry.  These are ingredients that most people have.  You can substitute the amaretti cookies with biscotti.  Also, switch up the liqueurs to your taste.  Sometimes I use biscotti and Baileys. Instead of the almonds, I use broken pieces of dark chocolate.   You can also use orange zest because it goes well with chocolate.

I wanted the taste of Amaretti in a cake and I wanted the Amaretto flavour.  When I started looking for recipes there was such a variety out there.  My Amaretti Crunchy Cake takes the ingredients of a cake and adds fruit and crunchy amaretti to the batter.  I made this with peaches and oranges; therefore, you choose.  I know this will become a favourite.  Also, play with toppings and decorations.

Another one of my cakes that uses amaretto https://recipesatmytable.com/special-occasion-sponge-cake/

Ingredients for Amaretto Crunchy Cake

• 1 cup each of flour, sugar and softened butter
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 4 eggs
• 3 tbsp Amaretto liqueur
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 20 amaretti cookies( save 6 for cake top)
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds
• zest of half an orange
• I small can of drained peaches or orange segments. ( save 6 sections for decorating the cake) 398 ml can)
• a few more amaretti cookies for decorating the top of cake ( about 6)

Process

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Line the bottom of a buttered cake tin with some parchment paper.

In a large bowl place the softened butter,flour and sugar.  Beat until smooth.

Add the eggs, amaretto, olive il and beat until smooth.

Cut up the peaches or orange sections and add to the batter and gently fold them in.

Now add in the almonds and the broken amaretti cookies and gently fold everything in.

 

Bake for about 50 minutes.  Check the centre.  It may need 10 to 15 minutes more depending on your oven. I have a gas range and this took 50 minutes. 

Dress the top with the reserved almonds and peach slices.  I sprinkled some icing sugar over mine.  Serve with ice cream or whipped cream or as is.  YUM!!