When making a cake with almond do you do anything to the almonds?!
Answers: my mom is baking a cake but we don't know if we boil the almons or if we have to do anything to them.so if you know whether to leave them as they are or do something to them please tell me. Thanks
Most almonds used for baking are blanched, (dropped in boiling water for a minute). But it really shouldn't matter much, for a cake.
Unless the recipe says to do something, just leave them alone.
If the recipe calls for sliced, or chopped, or slivered, etc, you just add them.
If it should call for blanched, and yours aren't (blanched means skins off - all white); that would be the only time you boil them. And even then, you can usually just use the brown ones, anyway.
The recipe should tell you how to prepare them. You don't usually 'boil' almonds...I've never heard of it. They do get 'blanched' sometimes but it should indicate this in the recipe. However, the recipe should also tell you whether to chop, sliver or toast them. I usually toast my almonds. This gives them a wonderful, full bodied flavor adding a stronger, nutty flavor to whatever you put them in, be it, cookies, cakes, candy or some savory dishes too. I do the same thing to pecans and hazelnuts. I think all three nuts taste better after being toasted.
I typically blanch the almonds for about 30 seconds in boiling water, and peel them, but that's my personal preference. It's not really necessary.
You can use the almonds, as is. Just follow the directions in your recipe.
There is no special preparation necessary for most nuts in recipes.
Almonds come in a variety of states. Whole w/skin, whole blanched, slivered, sliced. It would help me answer to know if they are going to be baked on top, or ground and put in with the dry ingredients in the batter. If you are going to bake them on top of the cake I would say use them as they are. If you are going to grind them put them in a food processor with some of the sugar and pulse the machine until fine. If you over process the nuts they will release their oil and make almond butter.