Almond Cake with Roasted Pineapple and Vanilla Cream

Preparation

1. Cake

   Step 1

   Preheat oven to 350°. Butter and flour 9x5x3" metal loaf pan. Finely grind almonds with flour, baking soda, and salt in processor. Using electric mixer, beat sugar and butter in large bowl until blended. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, just to blend. Stir in sour cream, lemon peel, and almond extract. Stir in flour mixture just until blended. Transfer batter to prepared pan; smooth top.

   Step 2

   Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 38 minutes. Cool on rack 15 minutes; turn out cake. 

   Do Ahead: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool completely. Wrap in plastic and store at room temperature. Rewarm unwrapped cake slightly in microwave.

2. Vanilla Cream

   Step 3

   Whisk all ingredients in small bowl to blend. 

   Do Ahead: Cream can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.

3. Pineapple and Assembly

   Step 4

   Preheat oven to 375°. Place pineapple in 13x9x2" glass baking dish. Whisk brown sugar, ⅓ cup pineapple juice, cloves, and cinnamon in small bowl to blend. Pour juice mixture over pineapple. Roast until pineapple is tender and juices brown, turning and basting pineapple with juices every 20 minutes and adding more pineapple juice by tablespoonfuls as needed to prevent burning, about 1 hour 15 minutes. 

   Step 5

   Cut warm pineapple crosswise into ⅓"-thick slices. Cut warm cake into 8 pieces. Place 1 slice of cake on each of 8 plates. Spoon pineapple and juices atop cake, top with vanilla cream, and serve.

   Do Ahead: Pineapple can be prepared 3 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature. Rewarm in 375° oven for 10 minutes before continuing.