Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 3/4 cup (165g) caster (superfine) sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup (150g) self-raising (self-rising) flour, sifted
• 1 cup (120g) almond meal (ground almonds), sifted
• 75g unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon rind
• 2 tablespoons amaretto or almond liqueur
• 1/2 cup (40g) flaked almonds
• 1 cup (250ml) water
• 1 cup (220g) caster (superfine) sugar
• 1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped
• 1/4 cup (60ml) amaretto or almond liqueur

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 160°C (325°F). Line a 24cm round springform tin with non-stick baking paper. Place the eggs, sugar and vanilla extract in the bowl of an electric mixer and whisk for 12–15 minutes or until pale and tripled in volume. Add the flour, almond meal, butter, lemon rind and liqueur and gently fold to combine. Pour the mixture into the tin and spread evenly. Sprinkle with the flaked almonds and bake for 30–35 minutes or until cooked when tested with a skewer. Allow to cool completely in the tin.
2. While the cake is cooling, make the amaretto syrup. Place the water, sugar, vanilla bean and seeds and liqueur in a small saucepan over medium heat and stir to combine. Bring to the boil and cook for 10–12 minutes or until reduced. Allow the syrup to cool slightly and discard the vanilla pod.
3. Remove the cake from the tin and place on a cake stand or plate. Drizzle with the amaretto syrup to serve.