Blueberry-Lemon Coffee Cake

Blueberries and lemon are a natural match, and they come together nicely in this fruit-filled snack cake. Almond paste, a sweet mixture of ground almonds and sugar, contributes a mildly nutty flavor and moist texture. Almond paste is found in the baking section of the grocery store. (Don't substitute marzipan, which is sweeter and has a smoother texture.) If it is hard, soften it by microwaving at HIGH 10 to 15 seconds.

Yield: 12 servings (serving size: 1 piece)

Ingredients

• Cake:
• 1 1/2  cups  all-purpose flour
• 2  teaspoons  baking powder
• 1/4  teaspoon  baking soda
• 1/2  teaspoon  salt
• 1/2  cup  sugar
• 1/3  cup  almond paste
• 2  tablespoons  chilled butter, cut into small pieces
• 1  large egg
• 1  tablespoon  lemon juice
• 3/4  cup  fat-free milk
• 1 1/2  cups  blueberries
• 2  teaspoons  grated lemon rind
• Cooking spray
• 
  Topping:
• 1/4  cup  sugar
• 3  tablespoons  sliced almonds, chopped
• 1 1/2  tablespoons  butter, melted
• 1/2  teaspoon  ground cinnamon

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°.

To prepare cake, lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk.

Place 1/2 cup sugar, almond paste, and 2 tablespoons butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add egg and lemon juice, beating well. Add flour mixture and fat-free milk alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Fold in blueberries and rind. Spoon batter into a 9-inch square baking pan coated with cooking spray.

To prepare topping, combine 1/4 cup sugar and remaining ingredients in a small bowl, tossing with a fork until moist. Sprinkle topping evenly over batter. Bake at 350° for 35 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

196 (30% from fat)

Fat:

6.5g (sat 2.1g,mono 3.2g,poly 0.8g)

Protein:

3.8g

Carbohydrate:

31.6g

Fiber:

1.4g

Cholesterol:

27mg

Iron:

1.2mg

Sodium:

243mg

Calcium:

82mg