Walnut and Chocolate Cake

The walnut and chocolate cake is a classic dessert that combines the crunchiness of walnuts with the intense flavor of chocolate. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

• 150 g of shelled walnuts
• 150 g of dark chocolate
• 100 g of soft butter
• 100 g of sugar
• 3 eggs
• 50 g of type 00 flour
• 1 sachet of baking powder
• A pinch of salt

Preparation

1. Finely chop the walnuts with a mixer or a food processor. If you prefer a more rustic texture, you can coarsely chop the walnuts.
2. Melt the dark chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave, being careful to stir often to prevent it from burning.
3. In a bowl, cream the soft butter with the sugar until you have a fluffy mixture.
4. Separate the yolks from the whites. Add the yolks to the butter and sugar mixture and mix well.
5. To the mixture of butter, sugar, and yolks, add the melted chocolate and chopped walnuts.
6. Gently fold in the sifted flour with the baking powder and a pinch of salt.
7. Beat the egg whites until stiff and fold them into the mixture, stirring from the bottom up to not deflate them.
8. Pour the batter into a previously buttered and floured cake tin.
9. Bake in a static oven at 180 °C for about 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
10. Let the walnut and chocolate cake cool before unmolding.

Curiosity

The combination of walnuts and chocolate is much appreciated in many culinary cultures and finds its way into various preparations, from cakes to cookies. Walnuts, besides being tasty, are rich in heart-healthy fatty acids, and dark chocolate, when consumed in moderation, provides benefits to the cardiovascular system.

This cake is perfect to be served as a dessert after a meal or accompanied by a glass of sweet wine like passito or vin santo, which balance the richness of the dessert with their natural sweetness and oxidized notes.