This frosted walnut cake recipe was the technical challenge for the first episode of the Great British Bake off Series 6.  This is one of Mary Berry’s recipe.

I have set myself a challenge to bake all or at least most of the recipes of the Great British Bake Off each week and post them here before the next Episode starts.  This will give me a chance to have fun, learn new skills and improve on what I already know.

In this recipe I will show you hot to make homemade Walnut cake.

For the sponges:

• 225g self-raising flour,
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 100g walnuts, finely chopped
• 225g butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
• 225g caster sugar
•  1/2 teaspoon ground coffee (optional)
• 4 large eggs, beaten

For the caramelised walnuts

• 2 tbs water
• 100g caster sugar
• 10 walnut halves

For the buttercream

• 125g butter, softened
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp milk
• 250g icing sugar

For the boiled icing

• 2 large egg whites
• 350g caster sugar
• 4 tbsp water
• ¼ tsp cream of tartar

1.  Preheat the oven to 160C/fan 140C/Gas 3. Grease 3 x 20cm sandwich tins and line the base of each tin with baking parchment. Mix the flour, baking powder and walnuts together in a bowl.

2.  In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugar and coffee together until pale and fluffy. Beat in the eggs a little at a time.

3.  Fold in the flour mixture using a large metal spoon.  Divide the mixture equally between the 3 tins and level the surfaces.

4.  Bake in the pre-heated oven for about 25-30 minutes until the cakes are golden and springy to the touch. Leave to cool in the tins for a few minutes then turn out, peel off the parchment and finish cooling on a wire rack.

5.  For the caramelised walnuts, tip the sugar and water into a pan and heat over a low heat until the sugar is beginning to melt.  Increase the heat and cook the caramel to a dark golden colour.  Remove from the heat, add the walnut halves and swirl to coat in the caramel.  Transfer the walnut halves onto a silicon sheet and leave to set. If you do not have a silicon sheet, greaseproof paper will do.

6.  For the buttercream, put the butter, vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon of the milk and half the icing sugar in a large bowl and beat until smooth.  Beat in the remaining icing sugar and pour in the rest of the milk if needed, to make the buttercream the right consistency.

7.  Spread half of the buttercream over one of the sponges and place the second sponge on top.  Spread the remaining buttercream over the second sponge and top with the third sponge.

8.  For the boiled icing, measure the egg whites, sugar, water and cream of tartar into a bowl set over a pan of hot water and whisk for 8-10 minutes until thick.

9.  Cover the top and sides of the cake, swirling the icing to form softened peaks. Work quickly as the icing sets rapidly. Leave to set in a cool place, but not in the fridge. Decorate with the caramelised walnuts.

I hope you enjoyed making this homemade walnut cake.