Nut Cake

Nut Cake – A Traditional Delight for Any Occasion

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Baking time: 20 minutes
Total time: 50 minutes
Number of servings: 10

Who doesn’t love a soft and delicious nut cake that delights the taste buds? This nut cake recipe is perfect for holidays, birthdays, or simply to pamper the family. Whether you decide to make it for a special occasion or just to enjoy a quick dessert, this cake will surely become your favorite. Let’s start our culinary journey!

Ingredients

For the base:
- 9 eggs
- A pinch of salt
- 1 packet of vanilla sugar (or natural vanilla)
- 1 baking powder
- 3 tablespoons of cocoa
- 3 tablespoons of flour
- 3 tablespoons of breadcrumbs
- 3 tablespoons of ground nuts (or peanuts)
- 9 tablespoons of granulated sugar

For the cream:
- 300 g butter
- 100 ml milk
- 1 vanilla (or vanilla sugar)
- 250 g ground nuts (optional)
- 180-200 g powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon of cocoa

For the syrup:
- 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar
- 150 ml water
- 30 ml rum essence (optional)
- 5 ml orange essence

Step by step - Preparing the cake

1. Preparing the base
The first step in creating this delicious cake is to take care of the base. Start by separating the egg whites from the yolks.

1. Beat the egg whites: In a large bowl, add a pinch of salt over the egg whites and beat them with a mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form. A trick to check the consistency is to turn the bowl upside down – the mixture should not fall!
2. Add the sugar: Once the egg whites are well beaten, gradually add the sugar while continuing to mix until a shiny and firm meringue forms.
3. Incorporate the yolks: Add one yolk at a time, mixing well after each addition.
4. Add the vanilla: You can use Bourbon vanilla sugar or natural vanilla, depending on what you have on hand.
5. Sift the dry ingredients: In another bowl, sift the flour, cocoa, baking powder, breadcrumbs, and ground nuts. Mix them well.
6. Combine the ingredients: Add the mixture of dry ingredients over the egg whites, folding gently with a spatula or wooden spoon, being careful not to lose the airy texture of the mixture.

2. Baking the base
Prepare a round cake pan with a diameter of 24 cm:
1. Lining the pan: Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper. This step will help prevent the base from sticking.
2. Baking: Pour the mixture into the pan and place it in the preheated oven at 180°C for about 20 minutes. Check if it’s baked by inserting a toothpick – it should come out clean.

3. Cooling and cutting the base
Once the base is baked, remove it from the oven and let it cool on a rack. Once cooled, carefully remove the parchment paper and cut the base into three equal discs.

4. Preparing the cream
1. Boiling the milk: In a saucepan, boil the milk and dissolve the vanilla. Once boiled, let it cool.
2. Beat the butter: In a bowl, beat the butter with the powdered sugar until creamy and light in color.
3. Add cocoa and milk: Gradually incorporate the chocolate cream and cocoa. If desired, you can also add rum essence for a more intense flavor.

5. Preparing the syrup
1. Caramelizing the sugar: In a saucepan, caramelize 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar. Once melted, add 150 ml of water and let it boil until the syrup thickens.
2. Adding the essence: As soon as the syrup cools, add the orange essence.

6. Assembling the cake
1. First layer: Place the first disc of the base on a platter and soak it well with syrup.
2. Adding the cream: Spread a layer of cream on top and repeat the process with the other two layers of base.
3. Covering the cake: Use the remaining cream to cover the entire surface of the cake.
4. Decorating: Sprinkle ground nuts and grated chocolate on top for an elegant look.

Serving and variations
This nut cake can be served plain or alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a cup of aromatic coffee. You can also personalize it by adding fresh fruits between the layers of cream or decorating with melted chocolate.

Calories and nutritional benefits
A serving of nut cake contains approximately 350-400 calories, depending on the ingredients used. Nuts are an excellent source of healthy fats, proteins, and nutrients such as vitamin E and magnesium. Additionally, cocoa has remarkable antioxidant properties, beneficial for heart health.

Frequently asked questions
- Can I use other types of nuts? Yes, you can use almonds or hazelnuts instead of nuts, depending on your preferences.
- How can I store the cake? The cake stores well in the refrigerator, covered, for 3-4 days.
- Can I freeze the cake? Yes, you can freeze the individual layers, but it is not recommended to freeze the assembled cake.

Now that you have all the necessary information to create a perfect nut cake, I encourage you to test your culinary skills. Each bite will be an explosion of flavors, and your family and friends will praise you for this masterpiece. Enjoy!

 Ingredients: 9 tablespoons of salt 1 vanilla 1 baking powder 3 tablespoons of cocoa 3 tablespoons of flour 3 tablespoons of breadcrumbs 3 tablespoons of ground nuts (or peanuts) 9 tablespoons of granulated sugar 3 teaspoons of grated lemon peel 300g butter 2 full tablespoons of chocolate cream 250g ground nuts (I didn't add them) 100ml milk 1 vanilla (I used bourbon vanilla sugar) 180-200g powdered sugar 1 tablespoon cocoa