Almond cake

Amandina Cake for Little Flowers: A Delicious and Love-Filled Recipe

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Baking time: 40 minutes
Total time: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Number of servings: 12

When it comes to bringing a smile to the faces of loved ones, few things compare to a slice of homemade cake. In this recipe, I will take you on a culinary journey where the combination of chocolate, cream, and rum flavor blends perfectly to create an Amandina cake that I made especially for my little girls, Sofia Violeta and Liana Comina. It’s a quick dessert, but with a flavor that is not easily forgotten.

The history of the Amandina Cake is rich in tradition, being a dessert that brings together the rich flavors of chocolate with the delicacy of a fluffy cream. This cake is perfect for birthdays, parties, or simply to pamper someone dear. Let’s get started!

Ingredients:

*For the base:*
- 5 large eggs
- 5 tablespoons of sugar
- 3 tablespoons of cold water
- 5 tablespoons of flour
- 2 tablespoons of cocoa
- 3 tablespoons of oil
- A pinch of salt
- Rum essence
- Vanilla essence
- A pinch of baking powder

*For the cream:*
- 500 ml liquid cream
- 500 g chocolate (40% cocoa)
- 200 g whipped cream
- Rum essence

*For the syrup:*
- Burnt sugar syrup
- Rum essence

Step by Step:

1. Preparing the Cream:
We start with the cream, as it needs to cool to become fluffy. In a saucepan, we place the liquid cream over low heat. It’s important not to let it boil, just to warm it up. When the cream is warm, we add the chocolate broken into small pieces and gently stir until it melts completely. Once the mixture is homogeneous, we let it cool. When it’s cold, we whip the cream with a mixer until we achieve a fluffy texture. Finally, we add the whipped cream and rum essence, gently mixing to maintain the fluffiness of the cream. This will be the delicious base of our cake.

2. Preparing the Base:
We start by separating the egg whites from the yolks. It is essential that the bowl in which we beat the egg whites is clean and dry. We beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until we achieve a stiff foam. Then, we gradually add the sugar, continuing to mix until we obtain a glossy meringue.

In another bowl, we mix the yolks, one at a time, with the oil and cold water. We continue by adding the rum and vanilla essences. Now, we start to incorporate the beaten egg whites into the yolk mixture, using a spatula to keep it airy.

Then, we sift the flour, cocoa, and baking powder over the mixture and gently mix until homogeneous. We pour the mixture into a round baking pan, greased with oil and dusted with flour, and bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for about 40 minutes. We do the toothpick test: if it comes out clean, the base is ready! We let the base cool on a rack.

3. Assembling the Cake:
Once the base is completely cooled, we cut it into 3 equal parts. In a bowl, we prepare the syrup from burnt sugar and rum essence, which we will use to soak the base, giving it moisture and a special flavor.

On each layer of the base, we generously apply the syrup and then add the fluffy cream we prepared earlier. We continue to layer the bases and cream until we finish all 3 layers.

4. Finishing and Decorating:
Between the layers of the cake, we can play with the decoration! We use whipped cream to cover the cake, but also to decorate. Whether you choose to add chocolate pieces, fruits, or even nuts, it all depends on your imagination and the preferences of your loved ones.

Serving Suggestions:
The Amandina cake is delicious served alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream or with a berry sauce. A cup of coffee or a fragrant tea perfectly complements this dessert.

Nutritional Information:
This recipe has approximately 300 calories per serving, being a flavorful choice, but also rich in nutrients, thanks to the chocolate that contains antioxidants and the cream that provides calcium.

Frequently Asked Questions:
- Can I use chocolate with a higher cocoa percentage? Yes, chocolate with a higher percentage will give the cake a more intense flavor.
- How can I make the cake less sweet? Reduce the amount of sugar in the base or use chocolate with a higher cocoa content.
- What other flavors can I use? Instead of rum, you can try almond or orange essence for a different taste.

In the end, I hope this recipe brings joy and smiles to the faces of your loved ones. The Amandina cake is more than just a dessert; it is a declaration of love and a gift from the heart. Enjoy!