Chocolate Coffee Walnut Cake: Irresistible and Delicious

Get ready to satisfy your sweet tooth with this decadent Chocolate Coffee Walnut Cake! Made with flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa powder, coffee, and walnuts, and topped off with a creamy hazelnut cream, this cake is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply indulging in a well-deserved treat, this recipe is guaranteed to bring you joy. Serve the cake on its own or with a dollop of fresh cream, and you have the perfect dessert. If your guests are chocolate lovers, they will LOVE this dessert.

The History Behind Chocolate Walnut Cake

Chocolate cake is one of the most popular flavor of cakes, for both young and old. But while many associate chocolate cake with being American, Chocolate and Walnut Cake has British roots. The first chocolate and walnut cake was seen in an advertisement for self-raising flour in 1934. The British flour brand, McDougals, presented the public with a delicious new recipe as a way to market their flour. These days, chocolate and walnut cake is so popular, that it was even featured on The Great British Bake Off!

Why You Should Add Coffee to Chocolate Cake

Adding coffee to chocolate cake is a culinary trick that deepens and intensifies the chocolate flavor, elevating the cake from merely good to truly sublime. Coffee, with its robust and slightly bitter notes, complements the richness of chocolate by enhancing its complex flavors without overpowering them. This synergy doesn't necessarily make the cake taste like coffee; instead, it acts as a flavor enhancer, making the chocolate more pronounced and nuanced. The addition of coffee can also affect the cake's texture, contributing to a moister, denser crumb that is highly desirable in a chocolate cake. Whether using brewed coffee or espresso powder, this secret ingredient is the key to unlocking a richer, more decadent chocolate experience in every bite.

Tips

• Test the cake to see if it’s done. Insert a wooden skewer into your cake and see if moist crumbs stick to the skewer. Then you know the cake is done. If you see wet batter, you’ll need to bake the cake a little bit longer. Cakes usually continue cooking for a short while after baking, so don’t wait until the skewer is completely clean, otherwise, you’ll end up with an overbaked cake.
• Eggs should be at room temperature.
• Use natural, unsweetened cocoa powder.
• To test if your baking powder is still active, mix a cup of hot water with 2 teaspoons of baking powder. If it fizzes immediately, it’s active. If not, it’s time to buy new baking powder!
• You can also make chocolate buttercream for this recipe. Beat together 1 ¼ cups softened butter, 3 ½ cups powdered sugar, ¾ cup cocoa powder, 3 tbsp cream, ¼ tsp salt, 1 tsp vanilla extract.
• You can make the chocolate cake and walnut ahead of time and then assemble and frost it on the day of serving. Wrap the cake layers tightly with plastic wrap, and keep the frosting in the fridge.

How to Store Chocolate and Walnut Cake

Store the cake in a cake tin, or another airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the fridge for up to 5 days.

How To Make Walnut Chocolate Cake

Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F. Cover a 28 cm spring cake pan with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour with cocoa powder, baking powder, soda, and salt.

Step 1

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F. Cover a 28 cm spring cake pan with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour with cocoa powder, baking powder, soda, and salt.

Use an electric mixer to beat the sugar and butter.

Step 2

Step 2

Use an electric mixer to beat the sugar and butter.

Add the eggs, and continue to beat until pale and creamy.

Step 3

Step 3

Add the eggs, and continue to beat until pale and creamy.

Pour coffee and cream in, mix well.

Step 4

Step 4

Pour coffee and cream in, mix well.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well.

Step 5

Step 5

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well.

Add the walnuts and boiling water and stir to combine.

Step 6

Step 6

Add the walnuts and boiling water and stir to combine.

Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 55 minutes.

Step 7

Step 7

Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 55 minutes.

Let the cake cool down, then top with hazelnut paste.

Step 8

Step 8

Let the cake cool down, then top with hazelnut paste.

Top with walnuts and serve.

Step 9

Step 9

Top with walnuts and serve.

Enjoy!