Peach Cake

I can provide you with a recipe for peach cake, a delicious summer dessert that celebrates the sweet and juicy flavor of this fruit. Here’s the recipe for a simple and elegant peach cake:

Ingredients

• 150 g of soft butter, plus more for greasing the pan
• 150 g of granulated sugar, plus a bit extra for sprinkling
• 3 eggs
• 150 g of self-raising flour, plus more for flouring the pan
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 2 large peaches, thinly sliced
• Icing sugar, for decoration (optional)
• A pinch of salt

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C (350 °F). Grease and lightly flour a round cake pan (usually 22-24 cm in diameter works well).
2. In a large bowl, cream the soft butter with the granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.
3. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
4. Fold in the sifted flour, pinch of salt, and vanilla extract, mixing gently until the batter is smooth.
5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and level it with a spatula.
6. Arrange the peach slices over the batter, creating a circular design from the outer edge towards the center.
7. Sprinkle a bit of extra granulated sugar over the top; this will help to create a golden crust on the peaches during baking.
8. Bake in the oven for about 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
9. Let the cake cool in the pan for a few minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
10. Before serving, you can dust the cake with icing sugar, if desired, for an extra touch of sweetness and decoration.

The peach cake is wonderful served on its own or accompanied by a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a sprinkling of crumbled amaretti biscuits for added crunch. It’s a simple yet very elegant way to end a summer meal or offer a refreshing sweet treat during an afternoon snack.

Curiosity

The peach is very popular in Italian pastry, often featured in desserts like “Peaches stuffed” typical of Piedmont or “Peach and amaretti tart”, which combines the sweetness of the fruit with the bitter almond flavor of amaretti.