Bring on the Birthdays
By Ali Lemmons / Photos by Rich Smith
The only thing sweeter than a tasty dessert is having family, friends, and loved ones to share it with. While a birthday might conventionally call for cake, there are endless possibilities for desserts that can be used to celebrate. Here, we chat with four local women to find out their favorite birthday desserts and the accompanying traditions that make them all the more special.
Tasia Malakasis’ Almond Cake With Whipped Cream and Berries
Tasia Malakasis’ Almond Cake with Whipped Cream and Berries is a light, moist dessert made with almond and coconut flours, topped with fresh whipped cream and macerated berries. Perfect for any occasion, it yields 9 servings of irresistible flavor.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 eggs
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp. almond extract
- 1½ cups almond flour
- ½ cup organic coconut flour
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- ¼ tsp. sea salt
Instructions
- Preheatoven to 350°
- Line two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper or grease and flour them thoroughly and set aside
- Ina large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, approximately 7-10 minutes
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition to make sure they are fully blended
- Pour in the milk, vanilla extract, and almond extract, mixing until all the ingredients are well combined
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the almond flour, coconut flour, baking powder, and sea salt
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, beating until the batter is smooth and creamy
- Evenly distribute the batter between the prepared cake pans, smoothing the tops
- Bake for about 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean
- Allow the cakes to cool completely
- Once cooled, stack them with a generous layer of your preferred frosting (I love fresh whipped cream!) between the layers
- Cover the top and sides with the remaining frosting and top with macerated berries of your choice
