Black Walnut Cake

I made my mom her favorite cake yesterday since she will be 88 years old on Saturday.  Josh and I are going over today and doing some power washing for her today and taking her the cake.   Her favorite cake is black walnut.  I used to be able to get black walnuts in Maquoketa at Fareways, but they can’t even order them now.  So thanks to the internet and me thinking ahead, I order them of all places from Amazon.com.  I’m cutting the recipe in half because she can’t eat a whole cake.  This recipe is for a 3 layered cake that I used to make for her birthday party.  She doesn’t have to share this year.  Here is what you will need for this decadent cake in case you want to try it:

2 stick butter

2 cups sugar

5 egg yolks*

5 egg whites*

2 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1 cup milk

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup chopped black walnuts

½ tsp. black walnut extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

With an electric mixer beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form and set aside.

In a separate mixing bowl, cream the butter, shortening and sugar together.  Add the eggs yolks and mix well.  Mix the flour, baking soda and salt.   Add the milk and flour alternately to the mixture and blend, don't over beat this, but make sure it is well incorporated.  Add the vanilla and nuts.

Fold in the beaten egg whites.

Pour the mixture into 3 greased and floured cake pans (9 inch works best).   Place in oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.  Let them stand and cool about 15 minutes before trying to remove from pans.

Butter Cream Frosting

I like to frost the cake with a butter cream frosting, but you could also do a cream cheese frosting if you like.  Again, since I  cut the cake recipe in half, I also cut the frosting recipe in half.

3 cups confectioners' sugar

1 cup butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups frozen whipped topping

In a standing mixer fitted with a whisk, mix together sugar and butter. Mix on low speed until well blended and then increase speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes.

Add vanilla and continue to beat on medium speed for 1 minute more.  Fold in the thawed whipped topping until well blended.  This lightens up the frosting.

Sprinkle the black walnut on the top and sides.

Variation – If you do not want to order black walnuts, use regular walnuts instead.

Mom also loves coconut and this could be turned into a coconut cake easy enough.  Add a cup of coconut in place of the walnuts and leave out the extract.  Add a cup of coconut milk instead of milk.  After frosting your cake, sprinkle the sides and top with coconut.  You could also combine the coconut and walnuts and make a coconut walnut cake.

If you don’t want a 3 layer cake, do what I did and cut the recipe in ½ and put in a 9 x 9 inch cake pan and bake for 30 minutes.

* If you are cutting the recipe in half, I used 3 egg whites and 3 egg yokes.  It will make it even lighter.

Happy birthday mom.  I am so blessed.  Have a great day, be happy and may God bless my mom, you and yours.