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Dense Walnut Cake

Dense Walnut Cake is a lightly sweetened, densely delicious coffee cake that's perfect for some serious winter weather. 
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Servings: 12
Author: Barrett @dirtylaundrykitchen.com

Ingredients

  • ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
  • 6 tablespoons raw sugar divided
  • 3 ½ cups walnut halves
  • cup + 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cups almond flour or almond meal
  • cup + 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • cup + 1 tablespoon cup heavy cream
  • ¼ cup plain whole-milk yogurt
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla paste
  • crème fraîche for serving

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350° F.
  • Butter a 8x8" metal or glass baking dish; sprinkle bottom evenly with 3 tablespoons raw sugar. Dense Walnut Cake sugarSet aside.
  • Pulse walnuts in a food processor until coarsely chopped.
  • Set 1 cup aside.
  • Add all-purpose flour to processor and pulse remaining nuts until walnuts are very finely ground. Add almond flour; pulse to blend. Set aside.
  • Using an electric mixer, beat ½ cup butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy (2 minutes).
  • Add eggs, cream, yogurt, vanilla paste, and salt. Beat until well combined.
  • Add ground-walnut mixture and beat just to blend.
  • Gently fold in chopped walnuts.
  • Pour batter into prepared dish; smooth top. Sprinkle with remaining 3 tablespoons raw sugar. Dense Walnut Cake prepared
  • Bake until cooked through and a tester inserted into center comes out clean (40-50 minutes). Let cool in the pan (on top of a wire rack or toaster works best).
  • Serve with crème fraîche and a slice of preserved walnut (this picture) or blood orange (top picture) on a beautiful place with some good, strong, hot coffee. Dense Walnut Cake with walnut

Notes

Notes: Can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill. Cake is delicious served cold.
Adapted from Bon appetit