Walnut Cake

I can provide you with the basic recipe for a Walnut Cake, a rich and substantial dessert that has various interpretations throughout Italy. Here is how you can prepare it:

Ingredients

• 250 g of shelled walnuts
• 200 g of sugar
• 100 g of butter at room temperature
• 100 g of flour
• 3 eggs
• 1 packet of baking powder
• 1 pinch of salt
• Powdered sugar (for decoration)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C and prepare a cake pan by buttering and flouring it.
2. Finely chop the walnuts using a mixer or a food processor.
3. In a large bowl, cream the soft butter with the sugar until it’s frothy and light in color.
4. Separate the yolks from the whites of the eggs. Add the yolks, one at a time, to the butter and sugar mixture, mixing well after each addition.
5. Add the chopped walnuts and mix until fully blended.
6. Separately, sift the flour with the baking powder and a pinch of salt, then fold these dry ingredients into the wet mixture gently.
7. In another bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form and fold them into the mixture carefully from top to bottom so as not to deflate them.
8. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and level it with a spatula.
9. Bake the cake for about 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
10. Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and let it cool completely before unmolding.
11. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Curiosity

The Walnut Cake can be enriched with the addition of spices such as cinnamon or vanilla, or enhanced with chocolate chips or jam for an extra touch of flavor. Traditionally, in some Italian regions, it is also used as a base for filled desserts.

Remember that, being a traditional dessert, each region may have its own version, so feel free to add your personal Italian variation!