Walnut Cake

A rich and nutty cake made with ground walnuts and almond flour, finished with a raw sugar topping and served with whipped cream. This elegant dessert combines the hearty flavor of walnuts with the delicate richness of vanilla and cream.

12 servings
1 hr 15 min

Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 6 tablespoons raw sugar
  • 7 cups walnut halves
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • cups almond flour
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 6 whole large eggs
  • ¾ cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup plain whole-milk yogurt
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 whole vanilla bean
  • 1 serving whipped cream
  • Ingredient info: Almond flour is available at some supermarkets and at natural foods stores and specialty markets.

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 13x9x2" metal or glass baking dish; sprinkle bottom evenly with 3 tablespoons raw sugar. Set aside.

    5 min

  2. 2.

    Pulse walnuts in a food processor until coarsely chopped. Set 2 cups aside. Add all-purpose flour to processor and pulse until walnuts are very finely ground, 1-2 minutes. Add almond flour; pulse to blend. Set aside.

    5 min

  3. 3.

    Using an electric mixer, beat 1 cup butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Add eggs, cream, yogurt, and salt. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean (reserve bean for another use). Beat until well combined, 1-2 minutes. Add ground-walnut mixture and beat just to blend. Gently fold in chopped walnuts, being careful not to overmix. Pour batter into prepared dish; smooth top. Sprinkle with remaining 3 tablespoons raw sugar.

    10 min

  4. 4.

    Bake until cooked through and a tester inserted into center comes out clean, 50-55 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack. Serve with whipped cream. DO AHEAD: Can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill. Cake is best served cold.

    55 min

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