a streusel topped tea cake ✨

I've been toying with the idea of making my own sourdough bread for a while now, and I think I'm finally ready to give it a go! We’ve also got a new pizza oven on the way (so exciting!), and I’m dreaming of using homemade sourdough pizza bases, bread, and pita in it.

Step one is tackling the sourdough starter. It’s pretty straightforward—you just mix flour and water, adding a little more each day until it ferments, letting nature do its thing. (There’s more to it, but that’s the basic gist.)

I’m loosely following methods from my Tartine Bread and Tivoli Road cookbooks. They seem quite straightforward, so let’s hope it works! If you’ve already mastered sourdough, please send your best tips my way—I could use all the help I can get!

Now, about today's new feature recipe, it's a classic tea cake with a delicious twist: Vanilla & Almond Tea Cake with Roasted Almond Streusel.

It's rich, buttery, and full of nutty goodness, thanks to a triple dose of almonds—almond meal in the cake, plus roasted and flaked almonds in the crunchy streusel topping. A subtle hint of lemon zest brightens up the flavours, while thick Greek yoghurt keeps the cake irresistibly moist. 😍 It’s also one of those cakes that somehow tastes even better the next day, straight from the fridge.

THIS WEEK IN GATHERED: NEWSLETTER
🍰 Vanilla & Almond Tea Cake with Roasted Almond Streusel
🌽 Chicken Mexican-Style Soup with a Zingy Coriander Vinaigrette
🍓 Fresh Raspberry, Coconut & Vanilla Chia Puddings
✨ Things I’m Loving - my favourite green peppercorn Dijon mustard
🥰 From the Community

🍰 Vanilla & Almond Tea Cake with Roasted Almond Streusel

The streusel topping is honestly the star of this tea cake. If you’re a fan of texture and a little crunch in your desserts, this topping is going to win you over in no time.

The secret to this streusel’s amazing taste is the trio of almonds—each one plays its own part. The almond meal gives the topping a rich, nutty flavour, and chew. The roasted almonds add a nice, crunchy bite that contrasts beautifully with the soft cake, and the flaked almonds on top bring a light, crispy finish that toasts up perfectly in the oven.

• RUMI: Food of Middle Eastern Appearance by Joseph Abboud. A beautiful cookbook.

• These stainless steel dessert cups and chalice. Perfect for summer sweets.

• I LOVE this green peppercorn Dijon mustard. It can be found in most small specialty grocers or online.

• These stunning ceramic platters in regular and oversized.

• These beautiful Orris soaps. Perfect for gifting.

In other news, last Monday I made a guest appearance on Channel 10's Everyday Gourmet with the beautiful Justine Schofield. We baked the first of three recipes airing over the next few months—my Pear, Dark Chocolate & Caramelised Pecan Cake. I’ve linked the recipe and segment below if you’d like to watch!

Thanks for reading! As always, if you make anything, please tag me @gatherandfeast. I'd love to see and also feature you! Enjoy the recipes, have the best weekend, and I'll chat with you all soooon.

🍋 Ash x