Walnut cake (karidopita) recipe
Karidopita (Greek walnut cake) is a moist and tasty walnut cake that is flavoured with cinnamon and soaked in sweet syrup. It is a wonderful cake to make and keeps well covered and at room temperature.
Ingredients
- 300g finely chopped walnuts
- 100g coarsely chopped walnuts
- 300g caster sugar
- 400g plain flour
- 150g butter (at room temperature)
- 8 eggs separated
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 heaped teaspoon baking powder
Syrup ingredients
- 2 cups sugar
- 3 cups water
- 1 cup brandy
Method
- Preheat oven to 170°C.
- Grease a round baking pan approximately 30 cm diameter.
- Beat the butter with 200g caster sugar.
- Add the yolks one at a time and beat well.
- Beat the egg whites with the remaining 100g caster sugar until soft peaks form.
- Mix the finely chopped walnuts with the flour, cinnamon and baking powder.
- Add half of the mixture to the butter and fold lightly.
- Add half of the egg whites and fold lightly.
- Continue adding the remaining ingredients.
- Pour the mixture into the baking pan and spread evenly.
- Sprinkle the coarsely chopped walnuts over the top and bake for at least one hour.
- Prepare the syrup while the cake bakes.
- Boil sugar and water for 3 minutes, then add brandy.
- Pour syrup over the cake while both are warm.
Alternatives
You can glaze the walnut cake with chocolate icing once cooled. Warm 200g of cream and pour over 200g of chopped cooking chocolate. Mix well, allow to cool and thicken, then spread evenly over the cake.
You can substitute the walnuts for almonds or hazelnuts.
Enjoy!
