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Greek walnut cake

THE ULTIMATE GREEK WALNUT CAKE

Sylia
This traditional Greek dessert is a moist, fluffy walnut cake with aromatic spices bathed in sweet honey flavored syrup. Its taste will amaze you.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 45 mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine Greek, Mediterranean

Ingredients
  

FOR THE DOUGH

  • 1 cup (250g) goat or sheep butter
  • 1 cup (200g) sugar
  • 6 eggs
  • 3¼ cups (400g) walnuts, chopped
  • 1⅓ cups (120g) breadcrumbs*
  • 1⅓ tablespoon (20g) baking powder
  • ½ cup (120ml) cognac or fresh orange juice
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

FOR THE SYRUP

  • 3 cups (750ml) water
  • 1 cup honey
  • 1 star anise pod
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest

Instructions
 

FOR THE DOUGH

  • Arrange the walnuts on a baking sheet and toast in the oven, shaking once or twice, until golden-brown, about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool completely.
  • Preheat oven to 356°F (180°C).
  • Chop walnuts or lightly ground in a blender or a food processor.
  • Separate the egg whites from the yolks. In your stand mixer bowl (or hand mixer) beat the egg whites into a light meringue. Keep it in the same bowl or transfer it to another, if you want to continue with the same bowl. Store in the refrigerator.
  • In a mixing bowl add the butter and the sugar and beat until fluffy for at least 10 minutes. Add the yolks one-by-one and beat until absorbed. Add the chopped walnuts and the breadcrumbs.
  • Dissolve the baking powder in the cognac (or orange juice) and add it to the mixture. Add all the spices. Beat for a few seconds just until all ingredients mixed together.
  • Remove the mixer’s bowl from stand and add gradually the meringue into the mixture. Use a silicone spatula or just a spoon to slowly and gently fold the mixture together. Move from the sides of the bowl to the center and repeat until all meringue incorporated. The final mixture has to be soft and fluffy.
  • Brush a 9x7 inch (24x19 cm) cake pan* with butter and pour in the mixture. Spread gently only the surface. Don’t mix or press the mixture. Bake at 356°F (180°C) on a middle rack in the oven, for approximately 45 minutes.

FOR THE SYRUP

  • In a pot, add the water, honey, anise pod, and orange zest. Just lightly heat the water until honey dissolves. No need to boil or simmer. Set it aside to cool.
  • Check if the walnut pie is ready by poking the center of the dough with a knife. If it comes out dry, the cake is ready.
  • Remove from the oven and immediately proceed with syrup. Use a spoon or a ladle and pour slowly the cool syrup over the cake. Just touch the surface with a spoonful of syrup and let the syrup spill at a steady pace. Don’t pour all the syrup at once because it won’t be absorbed evenly and it will result in a soggy cake. Set it aside to soak up the syrup for 10-15 minutes.
  • Serve on a platter or plates. See the recommendations above.

Notes

I used a 9x7 inch rectangular cake pan. Any shape and size close to 9 inches will work just fine.
 
Keyword Greek walnut cake