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Greek Walnut Cake (Karydopita) Recipe

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★★★★★

4.4 from 93 reviews

Karydopita, a traditional Greek walnut cake, is a moist and flavorful dessert featuring finely and coarsely ground walnuts combined with warm spices like cinnamon and cloves. This cake is beautifully complemented by a sweet lemon-cinnamon syrup infused with cognac, creating a luscious, aromatic finish that’s perfect for gatherings or special occasions.

Ingredients

Scale

Cake Ingredients

  • 120 grams (4.2 ounces) butter, at room temperature
  • Zest of 1 orange
  • 260 grams (1 cup + 6 tablespoons) sugar, divided
  • 8 medium eggs, separated (yolks and whites)
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • 400 grams (14.1 ounces) walnuts
  • 170 grams (6 ounces) powdered melba toast or breadcrumbs
  • 20 grams (4 teaspoons) baking powder
  • 5 tablespoons cognac or brandy

Syrup Ingredients

  • 550 ml (2⅓ cups) water
  • 500 grams (2½ cups) sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 4 tablespoons cognac
  • 1 cinnamon stick

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 170°C (340°F) to ensure it’s ready when the batter is prepared.
  2. Prepare Walnuts: Chop the walnuts in a food processor in two batches—pulse the first batch to finely ground texture and the second batch coarsely—then mix them together for added texture.
  3. Mix Dry Ingredients: Combine the chopped walnuts with cinnamon, cloves, powdered melba toast (or breadcrumbs), and baking powder. Set this mixture aside.
  4. Cream Butter and Sugar: Using an electric mixer with a whisk attachment, beat the butter with half the sugar and orange zest for 6-7 minutes until very creamy, scraping the bowl sides as needed.
  5. Add Egg Yolks: Incorporate the egg yolks two at a time into the butter mixture, mixing thoroughly after each addition.
  6. Mix in Cognac: Pour in the cognac and stir until the batter is uniform.
  7. Beat Egg Whites and Sugar: In a clean, dry bowl, beat the egg whites gradually adding the remaining sugar until soft peaks form, ensuring a fluffy meringue.
  8. Combine Mixtures: Fold the dry ingredients alternately with the meringue into the butter mixture using a silicone spatula, maintaining airiness in the batter.
  9. Prepare Pan: Grease an 11 x 15-inch (26 x 36 cm) pan with butter, then evenly sprinkle a layer of powdered melba toast or breadcrumbs on the bottom.
  10. Transfer Batter and Bake: Spread the batter evenly in the pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  11. Cool Cake: Allow the cake to cool completely to room temperature before adding syrup.
  12. Make Syrup: In a saucepan, combine water, sugar, lemon juice, cognac, and cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium-high and cook without stirring for 6-7 minutes until slightly thickened.
  13. Apply Syrup: Pour the hot syrup evenly over the cooled cake, waiting a few seconds between ladles to allow absorption.
  14. Final Touches: Let the cake sit at room temperature until syrup is absorbed, then optionally sprinkle extra ground walnuts on top for garnish.
  15. Slice and Serve: Cut into 18 squares or larger pieces as preferred. Refrigerate for 5-6 hours for best flavor and texture or serve at room temperature.
  16. Storage: Store in the refrigerator for up to 10 days or keep at room temperature for up to 7 days.

Notes

  • Ensure the mixing bowl and whisk are completely clean and dry before beating egg whites to achieve proper meringue peaks.
  • Folding the meringue gently into the batter preserves air and results in a lighter cake texture.
  • The syrup should not be stirred while cooking to avoid crystallization.
  • You can substitute powdered melba toast with fine breadcrumbs if unavailable.
  • Allowing the cake to rest in the refrigerator for several hours enhances the flavor and moistness.
  • Extra ground walnuts on top add both texture and decorative appeal.

Keywords: Greek walnut cake, Karydopita, walnut dessert, Greek dessert cake, walnut cake with syrup, traditional Greek sweets

Find it online: https://heutigemahlzeiten.com/greek-walnut-cake-karydopita-recipe/