• Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F, Gas 4). Grease and line a loaf tin (23cm x 12cm).
• Cream the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, almond extract and quark and beat again until well combined.

  Add the flour, ground almonds and bicarbonate of soda to the wet mixture and beat together until just combined. Spoon the mixture into the loaf tin.
• Bake in the centre of the oven for 35 - 40 minutes.
• Remove loaf from tin and leave to cool on a wire rack.

The icing

• Sieve the icing sugar into a small bowl. Add the water and mix with a spoon until the correct consistency has been achieved.

  Spread the icing over the loaf with a palette knife. Sprinkle the flaked almonds over the top.