How do I make a madeira almond-flavoured?

[HolidaysQueen]

I am making a wedding cake and doing a taste trial with the bride and groom next week. She has asked if I can try to make an almond-flavoured cake as she loves it.

I am planning to do a madeira as that will be solid enough to take the icing and extra tier etc. How can I flavour this with almonds? My two ideas were

1. replace some of the flour (50g?) with ground almonds
2. add almond essence
3. do both

What do you think would work? Or do you know a recipe for a fairly dense almond cake?

I love the Nigella almond and orange blossom cake but not sure if that would work as a wedding cake. Any thoughts on that?

Thank you!!

I think replacing about a quarter of the weight of flour with ground almonds would work - but that still might not be almondy enough, so option c) both would get my vote. It actually sounds really nice - I might have to have a go now.

I second the ground almons but a slug of ameretto or doing a drizzle of ameretto syrup after ti comes out of the oven might be nice too.

You guys are quick! Sounds like the consensus is option c - I'll give it a go and see what happens. She wants cherry jam in the middle -all being well it might end up as a yummy bakewell tart cakey thing

BTW if you do fancy almond cake any time then the Nigella cake is really really delicious (in How to Eat) and great as cake or for dessert with raspberries. I might have to make one for myself now