Chocolate Almond Loaf Cake

Cake

1. Line a 1kg/2lb bread tin with parchment and pre-heat the oven.
2. Finely dice the glacé peel & set it aside for later.
3. Put the eggs and sugar in a large bowl and beat until they thicken slightly.
4. Gently melt together the chocolate & butter then beat this into the mix.
5. Sieve the flour and cinnamon into the bowl and stir to combine.
6. Stir in the ground almonds and prepared glacé peel.
7. Tip the mixture into the prepared tin and smooth the top.
8. Bake for 45-50 minutes.
9. Allow to cool in the tin for 15 minutes before turning it out onto a cooling rack.

Topping          

1. Put the butter, cocoa, sugar, cream and vanilla into a saucepan over medium heat and stir until dissolved. Simmer gently for 6-8 minutes then remove from the heat.
2. Allow to cool and thicken slightly.
3. Beat the icing until smooth and glossy then spread it over the cold cake.
4. Press the blanched almonds onto the top of the cake.