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Coffee and Walnut Cake

Ingredients

For the Cake:

  • 3/4 cup walnuts (divided)
  • 1 1/2 cups (7 ounces) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 stick (4 ounces) butter (softened)
  • 1 cup sugar (granulated)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 3 tablespoons strong espresso or very strong black coffee

For the Frosting:

  • 1 1/2 cups icing sugar
  • 2 tablespoons butter (softened)
  • 3 tablespoons cream cheese (softened)
  • 2 to 3 teaspoons strong espresso or very strong black coffee

 

Directions:

  • Heat the oven to 350 F/180 C/Gas 4. Grease and flour an 8-inch round cake pan.
  • With a food processor or food chopper, finely chop 1/2 cup of the walnuts. Set aside.
  • Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl; blend thoroughly and set aside.
  • In a mixing bowl with an electric mixer, beat the 4 ounces of softened butter with the granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Blend in the vanilla.
  • In a measuring cup, combine the milk with the 3 tablespoons of espresso or coffee.
  • With the mixer on low speed, blend in the flour mixture into the creamed mixture, alternating with the milk and espresso mixture. Blend well.
  • Fold in the finely chopped walnuts.
  • Spread the batter in the prepared baking pan.
  • Bake for approximately 30 to 40 minutes, or until the cake springs back when lightly touched with a finger. A toothpick should come out clean when inserted into the center of the cake.
  • Cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes. Carefully remove the cake from the pan and cool completely.

Frosting

  • In a mixing bowl with an electric mixer, blend the confectioners’ sugar with the 2 tablespoons of butter and the cream cheese. Beat in the strong espresso or coffee, 1 teaspoon at a time, until the frosting is fluffy and spreadable. Add more confectioners’ sugar if it becomes too thin.
  • Coarsely chop the remaining 1/4 cup of walnuts.
  • Spread frosting over the top and sides of the cooled cake.
  • Sprinkle the coarsely chopped walnuts over the top of the cake.