Moist and Aromatic Walnut Syrup Cake

This rich walnut cake is a classic dessert in Mediterranean kitchens, and its warm spices and syrup make it simply irresistible. I’ve added my personal touch to make it extra special for any occasion.

Ingredients

For the Cake:

• 200 g all-purpose flour
• 200 g ground walnuts
• 150 g sugar
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 3 large eggs
• 120 ml olive oil
• 180 ml milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Zest of 1 orange

For the Syrup:

• 200 g sugar
• 200 ml water
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 whole cloves

Optional Garnish:

• Chopped walnuts
• A sprinkle of cinnamon

Instructions

1. Prepare the Cake:
Preheat your oven to 175°C (350°F). Grease and flour a 9-inch cake pan.

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, ground walnuts, sugar, cinnamon, cloves, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. In another bowl, whisk the eggs with olive oil, milk, vanilla, and orange zest until smooth.

Combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients, stirring gently until you get a well-blended batter. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Let the cake cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a rack to cool completely.

2. Make the Syrup:
While the cake bakes, combine the sugar, water, lemon juice, cinnamon stick, and cloves in a saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes until the syrup thickens slightly. Remove the cinnamon stick and cloves.

3. Soak the Cake:
Once the cake has cooled slightly (it should still be warm), pour the hot syrup evenly over it. Give the cake time to absorb all the syrup, which will make it moist and flavorful.

4. Garnish and Serve:
Finish your cake with a sprinkle of chopped walnuts and a touch of ground cinnamon. Slice and enjoy this comforting dessert with a cup of coffee or tea!

Notes

This is one of those desserts where the flavors deepen with time. If you can resist, leave it overnight for an even more delicious bite the next day.