Scandinavian Almond Cake (Gluten Free)

This gluten free Scandinavian Almond Cake recipe is moist and made from scratch. It's served with homemade whipped cream and strawberries!

This Moist Almond Cake is an old fashioned dessert based on a recipe found in a church cookbook. It's a no fuss, no frills cake that's perfect served up with some whipped cream and seasonal summer berries.

This almond cake is a simple dessert made with only a few ingredients and requires no complicated techniques or fancy cake pans.

I love to serve this cake during the spring and summer months because it is so easy to prepare and the perfect vehicle for strawberries and any other fresh seasonal fruits.

This cake is moist and dense. The texture is somewhere between a shortcake and a pound cake. The almond flavor really shines, as it's made with pure almond extract and both baked and topped with sliced almonds.

It's been a go-to recipe for years and makes a great after-dinner treat served with some tea or coffee.

Jump to:

• What Is Scandinavian Almond Cake?
• Ingredients For Scandinavian Almond Cake
• How To Make Almond Cake
• What Kind Of Flour Is Best?
• How To Make Almond Cake Moist
• What Pan Is Best For Almond Cake?
• How Long Does Almond Cake Take To Bake?
• How To Make Homemade Whipped Cream
• What To Serve With Almond Cake
• How Long Does This Cake Last?
• Can I Freeze Almond Cake?
• Scandinavian Almond Cake (Gluten Free)

What Is Scandinavian Almond Cake?

This Scandinavian Almond Cake recipe is an old fashioned cake that's dense and buttery. The cake itself is small and the batter is thick. It's not overly sweet and the almond flavor shines through.

There are different variations of this type of cake. Some are baked in elaborate cake pans, which create a unique and visually appealing shape.

Some Scandinavian cakes are light and fluffy, but this one is dense and thick. It's made without frosting, but can be served with whipped cream to make it extra decadent.

I can't take credit for this cake recipe. It comes from an old church cookbook that my Grandma gave me years ago. There's an inscription from my Grandma written on the first page and everything.

If you ever take a trip to rural Minnesota, you'll notice little churches scattered throughout the countryside. And every church has its own church cookbook. In the 'Nationality Dishes' section of this particular cookbook, there is a recipe for Scandinavian Almond Cake.

Ingredients For Scandinavian Almond Cake

Here's what you'll need to make this cake.

• 1 ¼ cup Sugar
• 1 Egg
• 1 ½ tsp. Pure Almond Extract
• ⅔ cup Milk (or non-dairy milk alternative such as almond milk)
• 1 ½ cups Gluten Free Flour Blend (or AP flour if not gluten free)
• 2 tsp. Baking Powder
• ¼ tsp. Kosher Salt
• ½ cup Unsalted Butter (equals 1 stick)
• ½ cup Sliced Almonds
• 16 oz. Heavy Whipping Cream
• 1 package Strawberries or fresh berries of choice

How To Make Almond Cake

As far as cakes go, this is one of the easiest out there. It only requires one mixing bowl and an 11x7 inch baking pan.

This is a great dessert to have on hand when you want something a little sweet, but don't want to spend hours in the kitchen baking and then cleaning up the mess.

1. To make the cake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Start by combining the wet ingredients in a mixing bowl. Add 1 ¼ cup sugar, 1 large egg, 1 ½ tsp. pure almond extract, and ⅔ cup milk (or non-dairy milk alternative such as almond milk) to a bowl and mix until completely combined.
3. Add 1 ½ cup gluten free flour blend (or AP flour if not gluten free), 2 tsp. baking powder, and ¼ tsp. kosher salt to the wet ingredients. Mix until completely combined.
4. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing thoroughly each time more dry ingredients are added. Continue until all of the wet and dry ingredients are completely combined.
5. Melt ½ cup (1 stick) of butter and slowly add it to the batter. Make sure the butter is not too hot, or it will cook the egg in the batter.
6. Fold the melted butter into the batter with a spatula. Mix until completely combined. The batter will be thick, dense, and silky.

What Kind Of Flour Is Best?

This almond cake is gluten free and uses a gluten free flour blend such as Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Flour or Cup 4 Cup. I love gluten free flour blends such as these, because they work just as AP flour would and require no complicated substitutions or ingredients.

Feel free to use AP flour if gluten is not an issue for you.

I have made this cake using both AP flour and a gluten free flour blend and find that both work just fine.

How To Make Almond Cake Moist

This cake is very moist and much of that has to do with the melted butter that is added to the batter. The butter creates a rich flavor and moist texture.

It's important not to overmix the batter, as this can cause the cake to become overly dense. Do not overbake it, as that may result in a dry cake.

This cake does not rise very much and is not light and fluffy in texture. If the batter is thick and buttery and the cake moist and dense when baked, then you have done everything correctly.

What Pan Is Best For Almond Cake?

This cake is small and requires an 11x7 inch baking dish. It's best not to use a baking dish larger than this, or the cake would come out extremely flat.

I love to sprinkle some sliced almonds in the baking dish before adding the batter. The almonds caramelize a bit as the cake bakes in the oven and provide it with some extra flavor and texture.

1. Before adding the batter to the cake pan, make sure to grease it generously with butter or cooking spray. This will help prevent the cake from sticking.
2. Sprinkle ½ cup of sliced almonds evenly across the bottom of the baking dish.
3. Pour the batter over the top of the almonds and spread it out with a spatula, so that the cake bakes evenly.

How Long Does Almond Cake Take To Bake?

Once the cake is ready, it's time to bake!

1. Place the cake in the oven and bake for 40-42 minutes.
2. Once the edges are golden brown and the middle of the cake firm, but not hard, it's done. Remove the cake from the oven and set aside to cool completely.

Baking times may vary slightly. A toothpick in the middle of the cake should come out clean when it has fully cooked through.

I would check the cake at the 40 minute mark and continue to bake for another 2-3 minutes if necessary.

How To Make Homemade Whipped Cream

Whipped cream is SO easy to make and takes this cake over the top.

You can certainly use store bought whipped cream or coconut whipped cream if you like, but this method works great if you want to make your own at home.

1. To make the whipped cream, simply combine place 16 oz. of heavy whipping cream in a bowl (you can add 1-2 Tbsp. sugar for extra sweetness if you like).
2. Using a hand mixer or the whisk attachment of a Kitchen Aid stand mixer, whip the cream for 4-5 minutes on medium speed.
3. Place the whipped cream in the refrigerator until needed.

The cream should form soft peaks as it whips. If whipped for too short of time, it will be loose and will turn into butter if whipped for too long of time.

I find that 4-5 minutes on medium speed works great, but you can choose which amount of time works best for you.

If you'd like to switch things up a bit, feel free to use 1 cup of heavy whipping cream and 1 cup of full fat coconut cream. This will result in a whipped cream with a slight coconut flavor.

I will say that coconut+almond+strawberries+whipped cream=Love.

Chocolate Whipped Cream is also a delicious option.

What To Serve With Almond Cake

This Almond Cake is pretty low maintenance.

Once its cooled, top it with some whipped cream, fresh berries of choice, and a few more sliced almonds.

You can use any type of berry you like with this recipe! Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries are all great options.

Enjoy with a cup of coffee, tea, or a glass of champagne if you really want to make it special.

Love strawberries? Check out these recipes!

• Strawberry Mascarpone Tartlets
• Strawberry Mint Panna Cotta
• Strawberry Mojito Mocktails
• Oatmeal Yogurt Cups

Love old fashioned desserts? Don't miss these recipes!

• Old Fashioned Rhubarb Bread
• Old Fashioned Apple Pie
• Coffee Infused Banana Bread
• Crispy Sugar Cookies
• Rhubarb Cake
• Buttermilk Apple Cake

How Long Does This Cake Last?

This cake will keep for a few days if covered properly. But, let's be honest, in whose house does cake last for more than a few days?

It will keep for 2-3 days at room temperature if covered. You can also store it covered in the fridge, but it might dry out a bit more quickly.

Any leftover whipped cream may be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Can I Freeze Almond Cake?

Yes! Cake freezes well and can be stored up to 3 months in the freezer.

How To Freeze

1. Bake the cake as directed and allow to cool completely before freezing.
2. Once cooled, wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap, making sure none of the cake is exposed to air.
3. Store the wrapped cake in an airtight container (optional). Label with the date and store up to 3 months in the freezer.

How To Thaw

1. Place the wrapped cake in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
2. Place the wrapped cake on the counter at room temperature a few hours before serving.
3. Remove plastic wrap just before serving.
4. Do not freeze the whipped cream! Prepare the whipped cream just before serving.

I love old recipes like this. Those old church cookbooks are repositories of great recipes and general knowledge. There's something really timeless about them.

So, here's to recipes that stand the test of time!

Love desserts? Don't miss these recipes!

• Italian Chocolate Hazelnut Cake
• Baked Lemon Doughnuts
• Blueberry Buckle
• Pumpkin Coffee Cake
• Pumpkin Cheesecake
• Sour Cream Streusel Apple Muffins

Looking For More Easy Cake Recipes? Don't Miss These!

Blueberry Muffin Cake

Banana Upside Down Cake

Lemon Ricotta Cake