Thursday 2 February 2017

A Nutty Cake


Quite some time ago, my partner and I were gifted with a Walnut Cake. It was a very good cake. However, had we not been told that it was a Walnut Cake, we would have been none the wiser.

Not meaning to be picky, the cake, wonderful as it was, was lacking in walnut content.

This was to be expected as the bakery would have had to charge a premium had they added more of the expensive ingredient.


This recipe from Alex Goh's cookbook called for 160g of walnuts, which is very generous. Look.


I know. I should have chopped them smaller because you can literally choke on those chunky bits hah..hah... But eh, there's lots of bite there and you know you are eating a proper walnut cake.

I left out the chocolate chips because I have been baking with chocolate chips too often. Besides, I wanted the walnuts to be the center of attention.


The cake batter is made using the egg separation method which is wonderful in producing a very light and airy texture. Troublesome, yes, but I assure you that your effort will be well rewarded.


With the benefit of hindsight, the chocolate chips do belong and would have added a lift to this buttery nutty cake. But I reckon, grated chocolate would work better.

Walnut Cake
Recipe source : Creative Making of Cakes (page 60)

Ingredients :
- 250g butter
- 20g castor sugar
- 6 egg yolks

- 6 egg whites
- 160g castor sugar

- 200g self-raising flour + 1 tbsp milk powder, sifted

- 160g walnuts, roasted and chopped, tossed in 1 tbsp flour (to prevent sinking)
- (in future I will add 100g grated chocolate)

Method :
1. In a mixing bowl, beat egg whites until frothy and gradually add sugar. Continue to beat until stiff peaks. Set aside.
2. In another mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating until well mixed.
4. Using a spatula, add the beaten egg whites, 1/3 at a time into the butter/egg mixture.
5. Gently fold to combine.
6. Then fold in flour in 3 additions. 
7. Add chopped walnuts and fold until evenly combined.
8. Pour batter into a lined and greased 8" round pan.
9. Bake for 60 minutes or until skewer inserted into center of pan comes out clean.

Notes :
1. I baked this cake on the lower rack, the way I do it for all butter cakes which uses egg separation method.
2. I tented the cake after 50 minutes to prevent over browning. 

36 comments:

  1. i love walnut cake PH. nanti nak cuba

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    Replies
    1. Cubalah..sedap. Boleh rasa cebisan walnut sebijik2.

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  2. Walnut cake is one of my favourite cake...

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  3. ooo, that's a LOT of walnuts indeed. yay! don't forget to call me if you make a cashew cake! hehehe :D

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    Replies
    1. hee..hee...now I know what is your favorite nut :)

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  4. I'd be happy with just nuts in my cake, no need for any chocolate. By the way, is there any difference when making cakes by hand (beating and creaming) without the help of any electrical gadgets (like say a cake mixer)? I don't know why but I've always had this believe that you don't get the same result (and I don't have a cake mixer) :(

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    1. Actually if you cream it properly by hand, there is no difference. The only difference is you will have a very tired hand hah..hah.. I have done it before and my cake turned out alright. The thing is, the cake mixer does the job faster and it's more efficient since it can rotate at high speed. Downside is that you have something extra to wash.

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  5. walnut is nice. memang the first cake sangat 'pemurah' dengan nuts.

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    Replies
    1. hah..hah...kalau buat kek ni, tak boleh kedekut dengan nuts :D

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  6. I like any nuts. Hihihi

    The cake looks simply divine!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you! I am nuts about nuts too :D

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  7. Maybe some chocolate flakes from a real block of chocolate? Beats the chocolate nibbles with are floury. Here, the nuts make the cake look 'expensive'.

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    Replies
    1. I agree as I dislike those chocolate nibbles.

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  8. I prefer chunky walnut pieces in the cake like yours. Won't choke unless the person does not chew the cake properly before swallowing.

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    Replies
    1. True, true. Besides, walnuts are soft unlike hazelnuts or almonds.

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  9. I love walnuts butter cake and Im going to try out your recipe soon. You did so good in your walnut cake. Very pretty

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Mel. Hope you like the cake :)

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  10. Wow, looks good. Love it. Kalo saya makan, bole habis tu, coz i looooove walnut., especially in a cake, taste sweet and crunchy.

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    Replies
    1. Kalau macam tu, berbaloi lah kalu ticer Azimah godek kek ni.

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  11. Nice height. Is the texture very fine? Did you use a steam bath to bake the cake?

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    1. The texture is not as fine as a sponge cake but fluffier compared to a dense butter cake. No, I did not use a steam bath.

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  12. I've got lots of nuts, walnuts, almonds...from New Zealand but no, we can't have cake, cookies...so we just eat them like that.

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    1. Nice also to just eat them like that. I love roasted nuts.

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  13. The cake sure looked delicious. Walnut is my top most favourite nuts and they don;t come cheap. This nut is the only nuts that all men should eat more as it is known to prevent prostate cancer.

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    Replies
    1. Then my laling should eat more of this nut :)

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  14. Mcm jarang jumpalah kek ni PH. (Of courselah sebab i tak pernah buat hihi...) I selalu jumpa walnut ni dalam roti kat La Bahome Aeon...

    Anak anak i tak suka kacang, so kalau buat kek ni, memang i kena makan sampai habislah jawabnya.

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    1. PH jarang buat kek macam ni sebab kacang tu mahal. Sekali sekala boleh lah...

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  15. Your walnut cake looks so delicious. Its been a long time since I last eaten a piece of cake. How nice if I can get a piece of your walnut cake!

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    Replies
    1. I would be happy to share a piece with you :)

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  16. Hello dear - Amazing !! I have quite the same recipe. This looks so yummy.:)

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  17. kek wulnut memang sedap giler PH..
    Dah CH anak beranak memang suka kacang..
    Kalau beli kek ada wulnut ni mmg habis dimakan..

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    Replies
    1. Kalau ada masa Yati boleh try buat kat rumah :)

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