Chocolate Almond Coffee Cake

As I've mentioned many times, food associations and products usually have recipes on their site. California Almonds (Almond Board of California) has many great recipes, but this is my favorite recipe on their site. I love coffee cake, and there are so many varieties.

CHOCOLATE ALMOND COFFEE CAKE

Ingredients
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 package active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water (115°F)
1/2 cup warm milk
4 eggs
3 1/2 cups flour
1 cup almond paste
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1/2 cup roasted almonds, finely chopped

Preparation
Cream butter with 1/4 cup sugar and salt. Dissolve yeast in warm water, add a pinch of sugar; let stand until bubbly. Add milk, yeast, eggs and flour to creamed mixture; mix well. Cover and let rise in warm place 2 hours or until mixture doubles.

Meanwhile, combine almond paste, remaining 1/2 cup sugar, cocoa and almond extract; set aside. Generously butter an 8-cup tube mold; sprinkle with almonds and 1 Tbs. sugar. Stir dough down and place 1/3 into prepared mold, building up around tube. Sprinkle with half of almond paste mixture. Repeat, ending with dough. Seal edges of dough to pans with floured hands. Bake at 400°F, 40 minutes. Remove from pan; cool.

Photo: Almond Board of California