
Incredibly aromatic Arabic cake made with only four ingredients, like ground almonds, tonka bean, eggs, and sugar. Yet the resulting cake is fantastic!
Arabic Cake with Ground Almonds
A simple Arabic cake with tonka bean and ground almonds, flourless and full of flavor, this is the perfect sweet treat with a cup of coffee.

Dense, moist and sweet crumb, the taste of almonds and the intense aroma of the tonka bean… this easy tonka cake will make you perfectly happy.
I made a Middle Eastern almond cake a few years ago and loved it. Unfortunately with so many other cakes waiting to be baked I kind of forgot about it. Every now and then, while searching in my notebook for something else, I stumbled upon the recipe, and I’ve always thought that I should bake it again soon.
Recently, it finally happened. I intended to bake a cake, but while searching for the ingredients I noticed that I was completely out of flour. Nothing there! I think that didn’t happen to me in years. Stores are closed on Sundays and I didn’t want to bother the neighbors.
Suddenly I remembered this Arabic cake and the fact that it contains no flour, just ground almonds. I had everything else, so in less than 15 minutes the tonka cake was in the oven.

Ingredients
Ground almonds
- I used ground almonds that were ground with their skin on, no need for the more expensive blanched ground almonds.
- You can buy already ground almonds or grind the almonds in the food processor yourself. Just be careful not to overmix and turn them to almond butter.
Tonka bean:
- It was the first time that I used tonka beans. I had a few of them for quite a while in my spice cupboard but didn’t really know how to use them.
- The recipe actually called for cardamom and vanilla but I thought it was about time to use the tonka beans. And I am so glad I did.
- You will not believe the intense aroma of the tonka bean. I only grated half of a very small bean for the cake but the taste was so wonderfully intense, something like vanilla but stronger, like sweet flowers or some kind of heavy perfume, I cannot really describe it. You have to try it to really understand it.
- The fingers of my right hand which was holding the bean while grating it retained the scent for hours and hours after grating the bean, although I had washed my hands several times in between. The whole kitchen kept the scent for two whole days. Amazing!
- However, while researching for this post I found out that tonka beans are actually illegal in the US. Crazy! If you wish to read more about that read this article.

How to replace the tonka bean?
- You can replace it with a vanilla bean and a pinch of cardamom.
- It will still taste great but do try the tonka bean if you can, you will be amazed by its flavor.

More Middle Eastern recipes?
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus – A flavorsome roasted red pepper hummus recipe with tahini, chickpeas and white beans, this has become one of our favorite spreads or dips.
Tabbouleh – Or tabouleh or tabouli, probably the best-known Middle Eastern or Arabic salad recipe, made with lots and lots of parsley, mint, bulgur, tomatoes, and cucumbers
Persian Eggplant Dip – A very easy to make and delightful Iranian recipe for eggplant or aubergine and tomato dip with yogurt.
Chicken Shawarma Plate – How to make a chicken shawarma plate at home.
Mujammara Dip – An amazing Syrian or Middle Eastern recipe with roasted peppers, walnuts, and pomegranate molasses.
Pin it for later!


Arabic Cake with Tonka Bean
Incredibly aromatic Arabic cake made with only four ingredients, like ground almonds, tonka bean, eggs, and sugar.
Ingredients
- 200 g/ 7 oz/ 1 2/3 cup ground almonds
- 150 g / ¾ cup/ 5.3 oz granulated sugar
- 4 eggs (medium Germany, large US)
- ½ of a very small tonka bean (See note)
- icing sugar, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius/ 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line the bottom of a springform (24 cm/9.4-inch diameter) with baking paper.
- Separate the eggs. Whisk the egg whites until stiff.
- In another bowl mix together the ground almonds, sugar, and egg yolks together.
- Grate the tonka bean over this mixture and mix thoroughly.
- Add about 1/3 of the egg whites and incorporate well with a spatula. Add the rest of the egg whites and fold in very gently.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
- Leave to cool completely and sprinkle with icing sugar before serving.
Notes
If you cannot get hold of tonka beans, you can replace that with the seeds of 1 vanilla bean and 1 pinch ground cardamom.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1 sliceAmount Per Serving: Calories: 207Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 74mgSodium: 128mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 2gSugar: 16gProtein: 7g
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.
Suzaan
Wednesday 8th of April 2020
I think it would really help if you added the part of where the sugar goes in the recipe because I just made it and realised that no where in the recipe it tells you what to do with the sugar and so I just wasted all my ingredients for a bitter cake.
Adina
Friday 4th of September 2015
They are wonderful, the tonka beans. Can't understand why they are forbidden in the US. I would send you some, if I wasn't so afraid to do something illegal. :) :)
Chris Scheuer
Friday 4th of September 2015
Tonka beans? Wow, you have me intrigued. Your cake is so pretty and sounds wonderful!
Thao @ In Good Flavor
Friday 4th of September 2015
Such a unique cake, Adina. I love it!
Adina
Friday 4th of September 2015
Thank you, Thao.
Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen
Wednesday 2nd of September 2015
OH. MY. GOD. What a gorgeous looking almond cake. And these sugar flowers on top are just AH-MAZING. Loved it, Adina.
Adina
Thursday 3rd of September 2015
Thank you, Anu, this is very nice to hear. :)