French Almond Cake (Amandier)

Audrey — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 10:38:33 +0000

If you’re searching for an easy French dessert that feels elegant but requires no pastry chef skills, the French Almond Cake (Amandier) is a must-bake. This moist almond flour cake is naturally gluten-free, deeply nutty, and delicately flavored with orange zest.

It’s a classic French cake recipe to impress guests, or a simple treat to enjoy with coffee or tea on your own.

What is an Amandier (French Almond Cake)?

The word Amandier means “almond tree” in French, and this classic french cake celebrates the nut in all its glory. Made with almond flour, eggs, butter and just a touch of citrus, it bakes up into a moist, tender crumb, finished with a delicate crunch from the sliced almonds on top.

This has been one of my go-to cakes for years—not just because it’s naturally gluten-free, but because it feels effortless and unfussy. No intricate layers, no elaborate frosting—just pure, honest almond goodness. A light dusting of powdered sugar right before serving is all it needs to look and feel special.

What I also love about this cake is that it seems to get better with time. By the next day, the flavors have deepened and the texture turns slightly chewier and denser – even more delicious and satisfying! And if you would like to cut cleaner slices, I recommend waiting until the next day too.

The French Almond Cake (Amandier) is a true classic: a moist almond cake that’s both rustic and refined. Whether you’re new to French baking or already love traditional recipes, I hope this one will become a favorite in your kitchen too!

Ingredients you’ll need for this authentic French Almond Cake

Sugar. You need ¾ cups (150g) of white sugar for this cake. I have tried the recipe with a lower amount of sugar, but the texture wasn’t right. Because this is a gluten-free cake, we need at least ¾ cups of sugar to help create the structure of this cake.
Orange zest. It adds freshness and brightness. And orange pairs wonderfully with almond!
Eggs. We need 5 large eggs (at room temperature) to create structure and richness.
Almond flour. The star of this almond flour cake! You can use blanched or unblanched. Choose a high-quality source such as Bob’s Red Mill. You can also use almond meal which in comparison to almond flour, is slightly coarser (not as finely ground). Almond meal is also often made from raw unpeeled almonds resulting in a brown-speckled mix, while almond flour is made from peeled almonds.
Butter. Melt the butter (in a sauce pan or a microwave) 15 minutes before you start, as it needs to be slightly cooled before it gets added to the batter.
Crème fraiche. It adds richness to the texture and a slightly tang. You can find crème fraiche in most grocery stores, next to the heavy creams.
Almond extract. To bump up the almond flavor.
Sliced almonds. They get sprinkled on top of the cake before baking to create a delicious, crunchy bite.
Icing sugar. For dusting before serving.

Step-by-step instructions

Here is a quick rundown of how this cake is made. This is basically 3 simple steps : making an orange-zested sugar first, then mixing the batter and finally assembling the cake. You can find the detailed instructions and ingredient list in the recipe card below.

Make an orange sugar: Rub together with your fingers the sugar and orange zest until moist and fragrant.
Mix the batter: Whisk eggs and orange sugar until foamy, then stir in almond flour, salt, melted butter, crème fraiche, and almond extract.
Assemble the cake : Pour batter into the pan and sprinkle sliced almonds on top before baking.
Finish: Once the cake is baked and completly cool, dust it with icing sugar.

This cake is best made in a 8″ circular pan. It also works in a 9″ pan but the cake won’t be as tall.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the French almond cake gluten-free?

Yes! This almond flour cake recipe contains no wheat flour, making it naturally gluten-free.

Do I have to use orange zest?

Orange zest adds brightness and pairs wonderfully with the almond taste. But you can skip it or swap it for lemon zest.

Can I substitute crème fraiche?

In my opinion, crème fraiche yields a distinctive richness and tang to this cake so I recommend sticking to it. But if you really can’t find it, you can use Greek yogurt, skyr or quark instead – the texture of the cake will be a little less dense. Crème fraiche yields a rich texture while yogurts create more of a “bouncy” texture.

How long does Amandier cake keep?

It stays fresh for up to 3 days at room temperature in an airtight container. You can refrigerate it for up to 5 days.

Can I freeze French almond cake?

Absolutely! Once the cake is completely cool, wrap slices in plastic wrap, store in an airtight container and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw before serving.

I hope you’ll enjoy this French Almond Cake (Amandier) recipe as much as I do! If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment. Happy baking and bon appétit !

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