A rich, moist Almond Pound Cake that’s made better for you with yogurt! A fun New Years dessert with one whole almond baked in — whoever gets the almond will have one year good luck!
The first time I made this, I failed miserably.
I had gotten the recipe from a cookbook, and it just did not turn out. I’m not going to deny that part of the reason is my occasional inability to follow instructions. But the other part of the reason is that it was not a great recipe.
So I went to Pinterest (obviously) and was on the hunt for an Almond Pound Cake recipe. I knew I wanted to use a pound cake base because (even though I’ve technically never made a pound cake) I wanted something somewhat dense, but still rich and moist. I wanted beautiful, luscious slices of cake.
I found a great base recipe, but I wanted to lighten it up (I mean, after the Cranberry Chocolate Chunk Blondies and the Apple Crisp Cinnamon Buns and the Brown Sugar Pecan Cookies….) . I used low fat Greek yogurt in place of the cream cheese (for less fat and a boost of protein!). I added some almond extract, and some sliced almonds in the pan before adding the batter.
And then I crossed my fingers.
It may or may not have been the finger crossing, but the cake came out of the oven perfectly moist and luscious (it’s just the word that comes to mind with a pound cake, right?).
One of the best parts of this Almond Pound Cake is the single whole almond baked inside. After you pour the batter into the pan, you press in one whole almond. You serve it up at your New Years party, and whoever gets the slice with the whole almond inside will have one year good luck!
I mean, not really. But it is so fun, right?
As I was putting this cake into the oven, I actually had forgotten to put the almond in. I could have just let it bake, and you really would never know if there was one whole almond or not. But the anticipation of who will get the almond is just too much fun — I couldn’t resist! So I quickly pulled it out of the oven and slid the almond into the batter.
We haven’t gotten that far into the cake yet (there are only 2 of us who eat cake!), so I can’t even tell you if it’s going to be me or not 😉
I think this is such a fun idea to do with any dessert, even cupcakes! Pop a whole almond in one and see where it turns up. And a healthier but still delicious dessert is the perfect way to kick off a New Year, don’t you think?
New Years Almond Pound Cake (Good Luck Cake)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup slivered almonds
- 1 cup butter room temperature
- 1 cup low fat plain or vanilla Greek yogurt
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 6 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Optional: whipped cream to serve
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F and grease a bundt pan well with non stick spray. Sprinkle slivered almonds in the bottom and on the sides of the bundt pan (you can use the spray to keep the almonds on the sides if you want). Set aside.
- In a large bowl with an electric or stand mixer, beat butter until smooth and creamy (I used my whisk attachment for the whole recipe, but you can use a regular beater too). Add yogurt and beat until combined. Add the sugar and beat until combined.
- With the mixer on low, add eggs one at a time, beating until combined. Add extracts and beat until combined.
- Add the flour, baking powder and salt and mix on low speed just until combined. Pour into prepared bundt pan and bake for 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
- Let cool in pan for 10-15 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool to room temperature. Serve with whipped cream and toasted almonds if desired.
Nutrition Information
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Tag @thereciperebelAlmond Pound Cake recipe adapted from Better Homes and Gardens.
Izzy @ she likes food says
I love pound cake! It is so buttery and delicious! That is such a fun idea to put one whole almond in there to see who gets it! If I eat the entire cake that ensures that I’m the one who gets it, right?!
Ashley Fehr says
Hahaha! Yes, that’s EXACTLY the point 😉
Danielle says
What a fun tradition with the almond, I love that idea! This cake looks so perfectly moist too, you’d never know it was lightened up!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Danielle! I think it’ll have to be one we carry on from now on 🙂
Stacey @ Bake Eat Repeat says
I’ve never heard that about good luck with the whole almond in your slice – sounds super fun! I totally need to do that next time I make a cake now! This one looks just delicious – I love almond flavoured things!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Stacey! It is super fun!
nicolthepickle says
This looks delicious. I’m not a huge fan of splenda, but this cake looks like perfection.
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks! The Splenda can easily be swapped for sugar if you prefer 🙂
Jessica @ Sweetest Menu says
I totally LOVE this idea Ashley! How special would you feel being the one with the almond. Knowing me, I’d probably accidentally eat it. Gorgeous!
Ashley Fehr says
Haha, thanks Jess! It was pretty fun waiting to see which piece would be the one!
Amanda | The Cinnamon Scrolls says
That’s such a cute and awesome idea! It looks gorgeous, and I bet it smells even better!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Amanda!
GiGi Eats says
AH! You reminded me! I NEED to eat my black eyed peas on New Years day for good luck 😉
Ashley Fehr says
Haha, absolutely!
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
That is so fun! I want to get the almond! I would probably eat the whole cake to guarantee I get the good luck for a year. Haha!
Ashley Fehr says
Haha, it’s a good excuse to indulge, right?! Thanks Natalie!
Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel says
My mouth is salivating just looking at this!! Almond extract is my favorite flavor in the WORLD and baked into a moist pound cake? YUM!!! <3
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Jess!
Zainab says
I LOVE this cake! So perfect for the big night.
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Zainab!
Malinda @ Countryside Cravings says
This cake looks and sounds absolutely wonderful!!! We do a similar tradition with a whole almond only we put it in rice pudding, why rice pudding, I don’t know. But it is fun to see who gets it!! 🙂
Ashley Fehr says
That’s another fun idea! I love it!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
I love this cake!!! LOVE the SPLENDA and the almonds!!!!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Alice!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
Definitely doesn’t look like you failed on this attempt! This cake loooks gorgeous, Ashley!! LOVE the pound cake base and the addition of almonds! I need all the luck for the next year, so I think I should make 7 of these and eat them all by myself! 😉 Cheers, girlfriend! <3
Ashley Fehr says
Haha! You just need to strategically place one whole almond in each piece — then everyone wins! Lol. Thanks Cheyanne!
Cakespy says
I love the look of this cake – but possibly even MORE, I love the idea and tradition behind it! I love the idea of bringing in the new year with sweetness like this.
Ashley Fehr says
Thank you! We had a lot of fun with it! I’ll definitely have to make another for New Years 🙂
Medha @ Whisk & Shout says
This almond cake looks so rich, but I love how you lightened it up!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Medha!
Kelly says
This is such a beautiful pound cake! I am such a big fan of desserts with almonds in them and I love that you lightened it up! The single whole almond sounds like so much fun!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Kelly! It was totally fun — and it was totally me who got the slice! Lol. I was so excited!
Dorothy Dunton says
Hi Ashley! Pound cake is my husband’s favorite cake, one reason being that he’s not much of a frosting fan. I always put a little almond extract in mine, it adds that extra something special. I love the idea of the almond slices added to the pan before the batter! I think it’s pound cake time!
Melanie @ Gather for Bread says
I love the idea for cake for New Years. Right before the guilt sets in and I have to go all healthy. 🙂
Ashley Fehr says
Haha, exactly! I did lighten it up a bit so you don’t have to feel TOO guilty 😉
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven says
Oh gosh, this cake looks SO perfectly moist and soft inside! I’m a total sucker for lots of almond flavor so I guess I just need to make this cake, huh? 😀 Gorgeous photos too, Ashley!
Ashley Fehr says
Thank you Sarah! I’m definitely going to have to make another before the New Year 🙂
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
Pound cake is one of my favorite desserts to make! I love the texture and flavor. And I love using almond extract, so I can only imagine how delicious this cake is! What a perfect way to ring in the new year!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Gayle! I like almond extract as long as it’s not overwhelming, but you can definitely add a touch more if you really love the flavor!