Karithopita (greek Walnut Cake)

Total Time: 1 hr 25 mins Preparation Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 5 eggs, separated
• 1 cup milk
• 2 cups chopped walnuts, toasted
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon clove
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 1 1/2 cups dry breadcrumbs
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 cup cognac
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup cognac
• 1/3 cup orange juice
• cinnamon stick
• freshly whipped cream

Recipe

• 1 preheat the oven to 350°f; butter and flour a 13 x 9 baking pan.
• 2 in a bowl combine the walnuts, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, breadcrumbs, flour, and baking powder.
• 3 in a small glass, dilute the soda with the cognac.
• 4 beat the egg whites in a bowl until stiff peaks form.
• 5 in a large bowl mixing bowl, cream the butter with the sugar and then add the eggs yolks; mix in the soda with the cognac, and add the milk and the walnut mixture, beating until well combined; fold in 1/4 of the beaten egg whites to lighten batter, then carefully fold in the rest; it is ok if a few streaks show in the batter; spread into the prepared baking pan.
• 6 bake for 45-60 minutes, or until the cake tests done; cool completely.
• 7 for the syrup: mix all the ingredients together in a medium saucepan; bring it to a boil and boil for 5-7 minutes; remove cinnaon stick and pour hot syrup over cooled cake; let the cake cool completely before serving.
• 8 note: it is very important that the cake has cooled completely before the hot syrup is poured on as it will turn mushy otherwise.