Karithopasta - Greek Walnut Syrup Cake

Total Time: 55 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients

• 250 g butter (butter tastes better but margarine is fine)
• 1 cup sugar
• 5 eggs
• 1/3 cup liqueur (brandy, orange or whatever you like)
• 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 cups breadcrumbs
• 1 cup finely ground walnuts
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 pieces lemon peel
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence (optional)
• sweetened whipped cream (to decorate)
• chocolate shavings (to decorate)

Recipe

• 1 grease a 22cm by 35 cm pan with butter or margarine. do not line with baking paper or use non-stick sprays.
• 2 beat butter in a medium bowl until softened and add sugar beating until light and fluffy.
• 3 in a separate bowl combine breadcrumbs, spices and baking powder.
• 4 add eggs one at a time to the butter mixture, beating well after each addition and then the liqueur.
• 5 add dry ingredients to butter mixture and beat until combined.
• 6 finally add the walnuts and beat until just combined.
• 7 tip into baking pan and smooth evenly over bottom.
• 8 bake on the bottom rack of the oven at 200c for 30-35 minutes depending on how hot your oven is.
• 9 test cake by inserting skewer and allow to cool until room temperature.
• 10 while cake is cooling add ingredients for syrup into a small saucepan, except for vanilla essence.
• 11 boil for 5 minutes at medium heat. then take off heat and add the vanilla essence if desired.
• 12 pour hot syrup over cooled cake. start by ladling slowly from one end to another and gently tip remaining syrup over cake trying to be as even as possible.
• 13 allow cake to soak syrup for a few hours. it is best if it soaks overnight.
• 14 cut cake into diamonds to serve with a swirl of whipped sweetened cream (i add a bit of vanilla essence or liqueur to the cream) and flaked chocolate.
• 15 note: it is beat to start with all ingredients at room temperature to avoid butter curdling when eggs are added.