Swiss Almond Carrot Cake (Aargauer Rueblitorte)

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon butter
• 4 eggs , separated
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2.25 cups peeled and grated carrots
• 2.25 cups ground almonds
• 1 lemon , zested and juiced
• 0.5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 pinch salt

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9-inch springform pan.

2. 2

   Beat egg yolks and sugar together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until fluffy. Beat in carrots, almonds, lemon juice, and lemon zest.

3. 3

   Mix flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl and add to the batter. Stir well to combine.

4. 4

   Beat egg whites in a glass, metal, or ceramic bowl until stiff peaks form. Fold into the cake batter with a spatula. Pour batter into the prepared springform pan.

5. 5

   Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 40 to 50 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Run a table knife around the edges to loosen. Remove carefully and place on a serving plate or cooling rack. Let cool, about 30 minutes.

6. 6

   Knead marzipan until soft and pliable. Pinch off 1/5 and add a little green food coloring using a toothpick. Knead until marzipan is uniformly green. Color the remaining marzipan orange using the same method. Shape orange marzipan into 12 little carrots and make tiny indentations on top with a paring knife. Shape the green marzipan into little leaves. Stick 2 leaves to the top of each carrot with a little water.

7. 7

   Combine confectioners' sugar and enough lemon juice to make a thick icing. Coat cake with the icing. Place marzipan carrots on top around the edges in such a way that each piece of cake has a marzipan carrot. Let icing dry before slicing and serving.