Halvaitar - Finnish Almond Cardamom Cake

Ingredients

• 200g (1 ¾ cups) all-purpose flour 200g (1 ¾ cups) all-purpose flour
• 200g (1 ¾ cups) ground almonds 200g (1 ¾ cups) ground almonds
• 200g (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened 200g (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
• 200g (1 cup) granulated sugar 200g (1 cup) granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs 4 large eggs
• 2 tsp baking powder 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp ground cardamom 1 tsp ground cardamom
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp salt ½ tsp salt
• 120ml (½ cup) milk 120ml (½ cup) milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 50g (½ cup) sliced almonds, for topping 50g (½ cup) sliced almonds, for topping
• Powdered sugar, for dusting Powdered sugar, for dusting

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 420 kcal / 1760 KJ
• Fat: 26g (total), 12g (saturated)
• Carbohydrates: 41g (total), 24g (sugars)
• Protein: 8g
• Fiber: 3g
• Salt: 0.4g

Preparation

1. 1.
   Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan.
2. 2.
   In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
3. 3.
   Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
4. 4.
   In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, ground almonds, baking powder, ground cardamom, ground cinnamon, and salt.
5. 5.
   Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, alternating with the milk. Mix until just combined.
6. 6.
   Stir in the vanilla extract.
7. 7.
   Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
8. 8.
   Sprinkle the sliced almonds evenly over the top of the batter.
9. 9.
   Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
10. 10.
    Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
11. 11.
    Once cooled, dust the top of the cake with powdered sugar.
12. 12.
    Slice and serve the Halvaitar cake, and enjoy!

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Almonds — Make sure to use ground almonds for the cake batter and sliced almonds for the topping. Toasting the sliced almonds before sprinkling them on top will enhance their flavor and add a nice crunch to the cake.

Tips & Tricks

• For an extra burst of flavor, you can add a teaspoon of freshly grated lemon zest to the cake batter.
• Serve the Halvaitar cake with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a delightful treat.
• If you prefer a stronger cardamom flavor, you can increase the amount of ground cardamom to 2 teaspoons.
• Store any leftover cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Serving advice

Serve the Halvaitar cake at room temperature for the best flavor and texture. Dust each slice with powdered sugar just before serving to add a touch of elegance.

Presentation advice

To enhance the presentation of the Halvaitar cake, you can place a few fresh sprigs of mint or a dusting of ground cinnamon on the serving plate. This will add a pop of color and make the cake even more visually appealing.