Dessert

Coffee and walnut cake

Name: Coffee and walnut cake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 200g softened unsalted butter, chopped; 1/2 firmly packed cup (125g) brown sugar; 1/2 cup (110g) caster sugar; 3 eggs; 1 1/3 cups (200g) plain flour, sifted; 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 50ml milk; 1 cup (120g) chopped walnuts, plus extra to serves; 90ml coffee essence (see notes); 1 1/3 cups (200g) icing sugar, sifted; 120g softened unsalted butter, chopped; 2 2/3 cups (250g) icing sugar; 2 tablespoons coffee essence (see notes)

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Marks and Spencer in the UK has been selling a cake similar to this for 40 years. The complementary bittersweet flavours make it a timeless favourite.

200g softened unsalted butter, chopped
1/2 firmly packed cup (125g) brown sugar
1/2 cup (110g) caster sugar
3 eggs
1 1/3 cups (200g) plain flour, sifted
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
50ml milk
1 cup (120g) chopped walnuts, plus extra to serves
90ml coffee essence (see notes)
1 1/3 cups (200g) icing sugar, sifted

Coffee buttercream

120g softened unsalted butter, chopped
2 2/3 cups (250g) icing sugar
2 tablespoons coffee essence (see notes)

Method

1.

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Grease and line a 23cm x 12cm x 7cm loaf pan.
2.

Beat butter, brown sugar and caster sugar with electric beaters until thick and pale. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Fold in the flour and baking powder, followed by the milk, walnuts and 50ml coffee essence. Spoon into the pan and bake for 35-40 minutes until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Cool slightly, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
3.

For the buttercream, beat the butter, icing sugar and coffee essence with electric beaters until thick and pale.
4.

Slice the cake horizontally into 3 layers. Place bottom layer on a serving plate and spread with half the buttercream. Top with another layer and remaining buttercream, then place remaining cake layer on top.
5.

To make the icing, place icing sugar and remaining 2 tablespoons coffee essence in a bowl and stir until smooth. Pour over the cake, allowing it to drip down the sides. Garnish with extra nuts, then serve.