Black Velvet Cake

Ingredients

• 2 cups almonds, slivered, slightly toasted
• 12 ounces chocolate chips
• 1 (18.25 ounce) box devil's food cake mix*
• 1 (3 1/2 ounce) box instant chocolate pudding
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

1. Sprinkle 1/2 cup almonds on bottom of greased 10-inch tube pan. Set aside remaining almonds and all the chocolate chips.
2. Place remaining ingredients in mixer bowl. Beat for 4 minutes.
3. Fold in almonds and chocolate chips, then pour into pan.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F for 60 to 70 minutes.
5. Cool for 15 minutes, and remove from pan.
6. Serve with topping of whipped cream if desired.

Notes

* 18.25 ounce boxes of cake mix have been replaced by 16.5 ounce and 15.25 ounce boxes. To compensate for the volume loss in a 16 ounce box, whisk 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour into the dry cake mix before proceeding with the recipe. To compensate for the volume loss in a 15.25 ounce box, add 1/2 cup + 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour and 1/4 teaspoon baking powder.