Some of you know my sister Lindsey. Some of you have only read about her here and thus only know about her penchant for crust-based dishes — pies and quiches in particular — and her love for Peeps and leftovers .
Let me tell you a little bit more. Lindsey, while a wonderful cook, doesn’t quite share the enthusiasm for cooking that many of the women in my family do.
“Why does everything have to be such a production?!”
The older I get, I tend to agree with this last statement more and more. It’s the simplest meals with the most minimal cleanups that leave everyone the happiest.
I should also note that Lindsey is a doctor, has two children, plays in an orchestra and is far too busy to spend time toiling in the kitchen. That said, a few days ago I called her and much to my surprise discovered she had been in the kitchen whipping up an almond torte in preparation for a few visitors.
“Little Lindis!” I exclaimed. (Yes, my sister is 32, and I still call her by her childhood nickname. We also still chase each other up the stairs and shriek in fear when we get together…that’s normal, right?) “I am so impressed.”
“Oh please,” she replied. “It’s so easy. It’s the only thing I make anymore.”
My sister (and the family as a result) has been making this torte since 1997, when she discovered the recipe in my mother’s copy of Chez Panisse Desserts , which is now in my possession. Truly, this almond torte, made entirely in the food processor, is one of the simplest and most delicious desserts you could ever prepare.
It’s definitely for almond/marzipan lovers and like the orange-and-olive oil cake and Teddy’s apple cake , tastes better with each passing day, so don’t be afraid to make it a day or two in advance if you’re preparing for a holiday gathering.
Dusted with powdered sugar, nothing will look more elegant on your dessert table. I hope all of your holiday preparations are going well.
I am not partial to any particular brand of almond paste, but if you can find a 7-oz box (which seems to be standard), that is ideal for this recipe:
This torte is made entirely in the food processor. First the almond paste and sugar are blended:
and blended:
Then the eggs are added one at time. This is what the finished batter looks like:
Description
Adapted from Chez Panisse Desserts
Author Lindsey Shere’s notes: Serve this torte with a cup of coffee or tea or a glass of Sherry, or better, an Italian Aleatico or Passito. It is also good with sliced peaches or nectarines and crème anglaise.
Be sure to buy almond paste versus marzipan, which are often placed next to each other in the baking aisle. Second, the recipe in Chez Panisse Desserts calls for 8 oz. of almond paste, but we have always just used one of those tubes that usually weighs 7 oz. If you don’t have a scale and can’t find a 7-oz tube of almond paste, measure out the 7/8 cup, but don’t pack it too tightly.
- 1¼ cups ( 250 grams ) sugar
- 7/8 cup ( 7 oz ./ 200g ) soft almond paste, see notes above
- 1 cup ( 227 grams | 2 sticks) softened unsalted butter
- 1 tsp . vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp . almond extract (optional)
- 6 eggs
- 1 cup ( 4.5 oz / 130g ) flour
- 1½ tsp . baking powder
- ¼ tsp . salt
- powdered sugar for dusting
- Preheat the oven to 325ºF. Beat the sugar with the almond paste until the almond paste is in fine pieces. Or, better, pulverize it in a food processor. Beat in the butter and the vanilla, then cream the mixture until it is light and fluffy. Beat in the whole eggs, one at a time — the eggs should be at room temperature — beating well after each addition so the eggs are thoroughly mixed in.
- Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt, and beat in just until thoroughly blended.
- Butter a 9-inch springform pan and turn the batter into it, smoothing the top evenly. Bake for 1 to 1¼ hours, but start checking at the 40-minute mark — depending on the pan material and your oven, the cake may be done between 40 and 50 minutes. A toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, and the center feels springy when you push it gently.
- Let cool for about 20 minutes before releasing the sides of the springform pan.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American/French
Some of you know my sister Lindsey. Some of you have only read about her here and thus only know about her penchant for crust-based dishes — pies and quiches in particular — and her love for Peeps and leftovers .
Let me tell you a little bit more. Lindsey, while a wonderful cook, doesn’t quite share the enthusiasm for cooking that many of the women in my family do.
“Why does everything have to be such a production?!”
The older I get, I tend to agree with this last statement more and more. It’s the simplest meals with the most minimal cleanups that leave everyone the happiest.
I should also note that Lindsey is a doctor, has two children, plays in an orchestra and is far too busy to spend time toiling in the kitchen. That said, a few days ago I called her and much to my surprise discovered she had been in the kitchen whipping up an almond torte in preparation for a few visitors.
“Little Lindis!” I exclaimed. (Yes, my sister is 32, and I still call her by her childhood nickname. We also still chase each other up the stairs and shriek in fear when we get together…that’s normal, right?) “I am so impressed.”
“Oh please,” she replied. “It’s so easy. It’s the only thing I make anymore.”
My sister (and the family as a result) has been making this torte since 1997, when she discovered the recipe in my mother’s copy of Chez Panisse Desserts , which is now in my possession. Truly, this almond torte, made entirely in the food processor, is one of the simplest and most delicious desserts you could ever prepare.
It’s definitely for almond/marzipan lovers and like the orange-and-olive oil cake and Teddy’s apple cake , tastes better with each passing day, so don’t be afraid to make it a day or two in advance if you’re preparing for a holiday gathering.
Dusted with powdered sugar, nothing will look more elegant on your dessert table. I hope all of your holiday preparations are going well.
I am not partial to any particular brand of almond paste, but if you can find a 7-oz box (which seems to be standard), that is ideal for this recipe:
This torte is made entirely in the food processor. First the almond paste and sugar are blended:
and blended:
Then the eggs are added one at time. This is what the finished batter looks like:
Description
Adapted from Chez Panisse Desserts
Author Lindsey Shere’s notes: Serve this torte with a cup of coffee or tea or a glass of Sherry, or better, an Italian Aleatico or Passito. It is also good with sliced peaches or nectarines and crème anglaise.
Be sure to buy almond paste versus marzipan, which are often placed next to each other in the baking aisle. Second, the recipe in Chez Panisse Desserts calls for 8 oz. of almond paste, but we have always just used one of those tubes that usually weighs 7 oz. If you don’t have a scale and can’t find a 7-oz tube of almond paste, measure out the 7/8 cup, but don’t pack it too tightly.
- 1¼ cups ( 250 grams ) sugar
- 7/8 cup ( 7 oz ./ 200g ) soft almond paste, see notes above
- 1 cup ( 227 grams | 2 sticks) softened unsalted butter
- 1 tsp . vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp . almond extract (optional)
- 6 eggs
- 1 cup ( 4.5 oz / 130g ) flour
- 1½ tsp . baking powder
- ¼ tsp . salt
- powdered sugar for dusting
- Preheat the oven to 325ºF. Beat the sugar with the almond paste until the almond paste is in fine pieces. Or, better, pulverize it in a food processor. Beat in the butter and the vanilla, then cream the mixture until it is light and fluffy. Beat in the whole eggs, one at a time — the eggs should be at room temperature — beating well after each addition so the eggs are thoroughly mixed in.
- Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt, and beat in just until thoroughly blended.
- Butter a 9-inch springform pan and turn the batter into it, smoothing the top evenly. Bake for 1 to 1¼ hours, but start checking at the 40-minute mark — depending on the pan material and your oven, the cake may be done between 40 and 50 minutes. A toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, and the center feels springy when you push it gently.
- Let cool for about 20 minutes before releasing the sides of the springform pan.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American/French
Some of you know my sister Lindsey. Some of you have only read about her here and thus only know about her penchant for crust-based dishes — pies and quiches in particular — and her love for Peeps and leftovers .
Let me tell you a little bit more. Lindsey, while a wonderful cook, doesn’t quite share the enthusiasm for cooking that many of the women in my family do.
“Why does everything have to be such a production?!”
The older I get, I tend to agree with this last statement more and more. It’s the simplest meals with the most minimal cleanups that leave everyone the happiest.
I should also note that Lindsey is a doctor, has two children, plays in an orchestra and is far too busy to spend time toiling in the kitchen. That said, a few days ago I called her and much to my surprise discovered she had been in the kitchen whipping up an almond torte in preparation for a few visitors.
“Little Lindis!” I exclaimed. (Yes, my sister is 32, and I still call her by her childhood nickname. We also still chase each other up the stairs and shriek in fear when we get together…that’s normal, right?) “I am so impressed.”
“Oh please,” she replied. “It’s so easy. It’s the only thing I make anymore.”
My sister (and the family as a result) has been making this torte since 1997, when she discovered the recipe in my mother’s copy of Chez Panisse Desserts , which is now in my possession. Truly, this almond torte, made entirely in the food processor, is one of the simplest and most delicious desserts you could ever prepare.
It’s definitely for almond/marzipan lovers and like the orange-and-olive oil cake and Teddy’s apple cake , tastes better with each passing day, so don’t be afraid to make it a day or two in advance if you’re preparing for a holiday gathering.
Dusted with powdered sugar, nothing will look more elegant on your dessert table. I hope all of your holiday preparations are going well.
I am not partial to any particular brand of almond paste, but if you can find a 7-oz box (which seems to be standard), that is ideal for this recipe:
This torte is made entirely in the food processor. First the almond paste and sugar are blended:
and blended:
Then the eggs are added one at time. This is what the finished batter looks like:
Description
Adapted from Chez Panisse Desserts
Author Lindsey Shere’s notes: Serve this torte with a cup of coffee or tea or a glass of Sherry, or better, an Italian Aleatico or Passito. It is also good with sliced peaches or nectarines and crème anglaise.
Be sure to buy almond paste versus marzipan, which are often placed next to each other in the baking aisle. Second, the recipe in Chez Panisse Desserts calls for 8 oz. of almond paste, but we have always just used one of those tubes that usually weighs 7 oz. If you don’t have a scale and can’t find a 7-oz tube of almond paste, measure out the 7/8 cup, but don’t pack it too tightly.
- 1¼ cups ( 250 grams ) sugar
- 7/8 cup ( 7 oz ./ 200g ) soft almond paste, see notes above
- 1 cup ( 227 grams | 2 sticks) softened unsalted butter
- 1 tsp . vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp . almond extract (optional)
- 6 eggs
- 1 cup ( 4.5 oz / 130g ) flour
- 1½ tsp . baking powder
- ¼ tsp . salt
- powdered sugar for dusting
- Preheat the oven to 325ºF. Beat the sugar with the almond paste until the almond paste is in fine pieces. Or, better, pulverize it in a food processor. Beat in the butter and the vanilla, then cream the mixture until it is light and fluffy. Beat in the whole eggs, one at a time — the eggs should be at room temperature — beating well after each addition so the eggs are thoroughly mixed in.
- Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt, and beat in just until thoroughly blended.
- Butter a 9-inch springform pan and turn the batter into it, smoothing the top evenly. Bake for 1 to 1¼ hours, but start checking at the 40-minute mark — depending on the pan material and your oven, the cake may be done between 40 and 50 minutes. A toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, and the center feels springy when you push it gently.
- Let cool for about 20 minutes before releasing the sides of the springform pan.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American/French
Some of you know my sister Lindsey. Some of you have only read about her here and thus only know about her penchant for crust-based dishes — pies and quiches in particular — and her love for Peeps and leftovers .
Let me tell you a little bit more. Lindsey, while a wonderful cook, doesn’t quite share the enthusiasm for cooking that many of the women in my family do.
“Why does everything have to be such a production?!”
The older I get, I tend to agree with this last statement more and more. It’s the simplest meals with the most minimal cleanups that leave everyone the happiest.
I should also note that Lindsey is a doctor, has two children, plays in an orchestra and is far too busy to spend time toiling in the kitchen. That said, a few days ago I called her and much to my surprise discovered she had been in the kitchen whipping up an almond torte in preparation for a few visitors.
“Little Lindis!” I exclaimed. (Yes, my sister is 32, and I still call her by her childhood nickname. We also still chase each other up the stairs and shriek in fear when we get together…that’s normal, right?) “I am so impressed.”
“Oh please,” she replied. “It’s so easy. It’s the only thing I make anymore.”
My sister (and the family as a result) has been making this torte since 1997, when she discovered the recipe in my mother’s copy of Chez Panisse Desserts , which is now in my possession. Truly, this almond torte, made entirely in the food processor, is one of the simplest and most delicious desserts you could ever prepare.
It’s definitely for almond/marzipan lovers and like the orange-and-olive oil cake and Teddy’s apple cake , tastes better with each passing day, so don’t be afraid to make it a day or two in advance if you’re preparing for a holiday gathering.
Dusted with powdered sugar, nothing will look more elegant on your dessert table. I hope all of your holiday preparations are going well.
I am not partial to any particular brand of almond paste, but if you can find a 7-oz box (which seems to be standard), that is ideal for this recipe:
This torte is made entirely in the food processor. First the almond paste and sugar are blended:
and blended:
Then the eggs are added one at time. This is what the finished batter looks like:
Description
Adapted from Chez Panisse Desserts
Author Lindsey Shere’s notes: Serve this torte with a cup of coffee or tea or a glass of Sherry, or better, an Italian Aleatico or Passito. It is also good with sliced peaches or nectarines and crème anglaise.
Be sure to buy almond paste versus marzipan, which are often placed next to each other in the baking aisle. Second, the recipe in Chez Panisse Desserts calls for 8 oz. of almond paste, but we have always just used one of those tubes that usually weighs 7 oz. If you don’t have a scale and can’t find a 7-oz tube of almond paste, measure out the 7/8 cup, but don’t pack it too tightly.
- 1¼ cups ( 250 grams ) sugar
- 7/8 cup ( 7 oz ./ 200g ) soft almond paste, see notes above
- 1 cup ( 227 grams | 2 sticks) softened unsalted butter
- 1 tsp . vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp . almond extract (optional)
- 6 eggs
- 1 cup ( 4.5 oz / 130g ) flour
- 1½ tsp . baking powder
- ¼ tsp . salt
- powdered sugar for dusting
- Preheat the oven to 325ºF. Beat the sugar with the almond paste until the almond paste is in fine pieces. Or, better, pulverize it in a food processor. Beat in the butter and the vanilla, then cream the mixture until it is light and fluffy. Beat in the whole eggs, one at a time — the eggs should be at room temperature — beating well after each addition so the eggs are thoroughly mixed in.
- Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt, and beat in just until thoroughly blended.
- Butter a 9-inch springform pan and turn the batter into it, smoothing the top evenly. Bake for 1 to 1¼ hours, but start checking at the 40-minute mark — depending on the pan material and your oven, the cake may be done between 40 and 50 minutes. A toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, and the center feels springy when you push it gently.
- Let cool for about 20 minutes before releasing the sides of the springform pan.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American/French
Description
Adapted from Chez Panisse Desserts
Author Lindsey Shere’s notes: Serve this torte with a cup of coffee or tea or a glass of Sherry, or better, an Italian Aleatico or Passito. It is also good with sliced peaches or nectarines and crème anglaise.
Be sure to buy almond paste versus marzipan, which are often placed next to each other in the baking aisle. Second, the recipe in Chez Panisse Desserts calls for 8 oz. of almond paste, but we have always just used one of those tubes that usually weighs 7 oz. If you don’t have a scale and can’t find a 7-oz tube of almond paste, measure out the 7/8 cup, but don’t pack it too tightly.
- 1¼ cups ( 250 grams ) sugar
- 7/8 cup ( 7 oz ./ 200g ) soft almond paste, see notes above
- 1 cup ( 227 grams | 2 sticks) softened unsalted butter
- 1 tsp . vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp . almond extract (optional)
- 6 eggs
- 1 cup ( 4.5 oz / 130g ) flour
- 1½ tsp . baking powder
- ¼ tsp . salt
- powdered sugar for dusting
- Preheat the oven to 325ºF. Beat the sugar with the almond paste until the almond paste is in fine pieces. Or, better, pulverize it in a food processor. Beat in the butter and the vanilla, then cream the mixture until it is light and fluffy. Beat in the whole eggs, one at a time — the eggs should be at room temperature — beating well after each addition so the eggs are thoroughly mixed in.
- Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt, and beat in just until thoroughly blended.
- Butter a 9-inch springform pan and turn the batter into it, smoothing the top evenly. Bake for 1 to 1¼ hours, but start checking at the 40-minute mark — depending on the pan material and your oven, the cake may be done between 40 and 50 minutes. A toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, and the center feels springy when you push it gently.
- Let cool for about 20 minutes before releasing the sides of the springform pan.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American/French
Find it online : https://alexandracooks.com/2012/12/14/chez-panisse-almond-torte/
For Sunday morning breakfast I made baked eggs, also known as “shirred” eggs, a dish traditionally reserved in my family for one occasion and one occasion only: Christmas morning.
Preparing the eggs down here in Virginia felt odd as I’ve never made them outside of my mother’s Connecticut kitchen, and eating them felt odd, too, because instantly it felt like Christmas morning, and I thus expected to see my sister sitting across from me harmonizing with the Messiah and my brother a few seats down strumming along on his guitar.
Alas, neither of these characters was present and having not inherited a single musical gene, Ben and I tucked into our herb-and-gruyère-topped baked eggs in silence, spooning the perfectly runny yolks over toasted bread, enjoying an unprecedented Christmas morning dress rehearsal.
Baked or Shirred Eggs
Tradition aside, I have no good reason to make baked eggs only once a year. They couldn’t be simpler to assemble, they’re great for a small-ish crowd, and they are far from indulgent. My mother has been making this New York Times Magazine recipe since 1985! Here’s how you make them:
- Crack 8 eggs into 8 ramekins. (Scale up or down as needed.) These 4-oz ramekins are great for baked eggs.
- Season eggs with salt and pepper to taste. Pour 2 teaspoons cream, 1 teaspoon (about) herbs and a few dashes of Tabasco over each egg. Sprinkle with about one tablespoon of Gruyère (or other) cheese.
- Bake in a water bath for 9-14 minutes or until whites are set but yolks are still runny.
- Serve with toast: My Mother’s Peasant Bread or Easy Sourdough Bread are good options.
The combination of herbs — parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme — with Gruyère and soft-cooked eggs along with a few splashes of Tabasco, while certainly festive, is too good to save for one and only one morning a year. Besides, it’s not truly the holidays until all of the usual suspects — baked eggs or not — are present.
More Egg Recipes to Try
- Instant Pot Soft-Boiled Eggs
- Instant Pot Hard-Boiled Eggs
- Oil and Vinegar Toasts + Soft-Boiled Eggs
- Perfect Poached Eggs
- Avocado-Egg Salad on Toasted Sourdough
Description
Notes:
Use the quantities of herbs as a guide — I never measure anymore.
Prepare for some trial and error: getting the desired doneness of the eggs may take some practice. Once, for instance, two of the eggs were perfectly cooked — yolk runny but not too runny; whites nicely set — and two of the eggs were overcooked. I discovered afterwards that the overcooked eggs were in ramekins that were a little bit thinner than the ramekins holding the perfectly cooked eggs. So, the thickness of the ramekin makes a difference as does the temperature of the oven (every oven is different) as does the height of the water in the water bath as does the number of ramekins you have in your baking dish. I advise you start checking for doneness after 9 minutes. Just press the top gently with your finger. Keep in mind, too, that they continue to cook after you take them out of the oven.
3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley, loosely packed
1 teaspoon finely chopped thyme, loosely packed
1 teaspoon finely chopped rosemary, loosely packed
1 teaspoon finely chopped sage, loosely packed
1 tablespoon softened unsalted butter
salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup heavy cream (or half and half)
Tabasco
8 eggs
8 tablespoons grated Gruyère or Swiss cheese
- Preheat oven to 400ºF. Bring a tea pot filled with water to a boil. Combine herbs in a small bowl. Butter eight 4-oz ramekins . Crack one egg into each ramekin.
- Season eggs with salt and pepper to taste. Pour 2 teaspoons cream, 1 teaspoon (about) herbs and a few dashes of Tabasco over each egg. Sprinkle with about one tablespoon of cheese.
- Place ramekins in a baking dish large enough to ensure they do not touch each other. Pour boiling water into dish so that it reaches one-third of the way up the sides of the ramekins. Bake 9 to 14 minutes depending on variables noted above for medium cooked eggs.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Eggs, Breakfast
- Method: Baked, Oven
- Cuisine: American
