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Gâteau Nantais (French Almond Rum Cake)

Sliced gateau Nantais on a serving plate.
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Gâteau Nantais (Nantes cake) is a French almond rum cake made with basic ingredients, flavored with rum, and covered with rum icing. 

Ingredients

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For the cake batter:

  • 1/2 cup (125 g) salted softened butter
  • 1 cup + 3 tablespoons (150 g) icing sugar
  • 1 cup + 2 teaspoons (100 g) almond flour
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1/3 cup (40 g) all-purpose flour
  • 4 teaspoons (20 ml) dark rum

For soaking:

  • 4 teaspoons (20 ml) dark rum

For rum glaze:

  • 6 1/2 tablespoons (50 g) icing sugar
  • 4 teaspoons (10 ml) white rum

Instructions

  1. Cut a round of parchment for the bottom and wide strips for the sides of the pan. Using softened butter, grease an 8-inch (20 cm) round cake pan and line it with parchment paper. Alternatively, you can flour it with all-purpose flour instead of using baking paper. 

  2. Preheat the oven to 355°F (180°C). To make the cake batter, sift almond flour in a clean bowl and set aside. Then, using a flour sifter, sift all-purpose flour in a separate bowl. In a large mixing bowl, place softened butter and icing (powdered) sugar and whisk with an electric mixer until the mixture becomes creamy and homogeneous. 

  3. Add the sifted almond powder and whisk the mixture well. Then, add eggs, one at a time, whisking the mixture well between each addition. Pour the sifted flour and mix the batter with a rubber spatula. Add rum or another flavor of your choice and mix.

  4. Pour the cake batter mixture into the prepared pan, smooth the surface, and bake the cake for 40-45 minutes. Cover the cake with aluminum foil if the cake browns quickly. Check the cake for doneness by testing it with a toothpick in the center.

  5. Remove the cake from the oven. Cover the pan with a wire rack and flip it over to gently unmold the cake: it will be upside down. Soak the bottom of the cake (it will be the top now) with rum using a pastry or silicone brush. Let it cool to room temperature.

  6. To make the glaze, sift the icing sugar in a small bowl and add white rum little by little, beating with a fork. Do not add the rum all at once: add it gradually to control the texture of the frosting.

  7. Pour a small amount of the glaze into the center of the cold cake and spread it towards the edges. Use the back of a tablespoon or an offset spatula. Add more glaze and smooth it. If the icing start dripping, catch it with your finger by running along the cake's edge. Work with icing quickly since it hardens fast.  

  8. Let the glaze set at room temperature for 1-2 hours before serving. To serve the next day, keep it without refrigerating, at room temperature: it tastes even better the next day.

Notes

  1. Use a springform pan of 9 inches (23 cm) in diameter to make a lower cake. Authentically, the height of the cake doesn't exceed 1 1/5 inches (3 cm).
  2. Mix 6 1/2 tablespoons (50 g) of icing sugar and 2-4 teaspoons (10-20 ml) of rum to find your desired texture. Experiment with the rum icing consistency by adding a drop of rum or a few pinches of icing sugar. Lemon juice can be used as a substitute for rum in the glaze recipe if preferred.
  3. Sprinkle the top of the cake with roasted flaked almonds to hide imperfections of the glaze if this is the case.
  4. Make ahead option: Bake the cake one day in advance. Cover it with a tea towel and keep it at room temperature overnight. Glaze it for 1-2 hours before serving. 

Nutrition

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