This Walnut Cake With Egg Yolk Glaze is an easy Eastern European dessert, made with ground walnuts and egg whites, with a delicious egg yolk glaze.
This is a cherished family recipe that has been passed down through generations. Popular in Transylvania and other parts of Eastern Europe, this cake is known as the "Walnut Cake with Egg Yolk Glaze."
I inherited this amazingly delicious and unique recipe from my family. The cake is made with ground walnuts, and the glaze on top is made from egg yolks, which is quite unusual.
What I love about this recipe is that nothing goes to waste; everything is used in a creative and economical way. You'll be amazed at how good it is.
I have a passion for easy desserts and simple baking. This recipe perfectly fits my love for basic ingredients that most of us already have in the pantry.
From the same category of dessert category, you might want to also try these Jam And Walnut Rugelach Cookies, Meringue Cheese Cake or this rich and delicious Hungarian Decadent Chocolate Cake- Rigó Jancsi. All these recipes are very dear to me, as they are part of my cultural heritage.
Jump to:
Ingredients Needed
For the cake:
- All-purpose flour: this flour is perfect for most baked goods.
- Ground walnuts: If you can't find ground walnuts at the store, you can use a food processor to grind them yourself.
- Unsalted butter: Always use unsalted butter unless the recipe requires you otherwise.
- Granulated sugar: Used for bringing sweetness to the cake.
- Egg whites: Since this recipe doesn't use baking powder, we'll use egg whites to incorporate air into the cake batter to help it rise.
For the glaze:
- Egg yolks
- Powdered sugar
How To Make The Cake
Step 1. Preheat the oven.
Step 2. Make the cake. Beat the butter together with the sugar until light and fluffy. Add flour and walnuts. Beat the egg whites until stiff. Add them slowly to the batter and bake the cake.
Step 3. Prepare the glaze. Mix egg yolks with powdered sugar. When the cake is baked, remove it from the oven and immediately pour the glaze over its surface.
Step 4. Return the cake to the oven for another 3 minutes baking. Shut off the oven and leave the cake inside for another 5 minutes until the glaze gets hard.
Step 5. Drizzle with melted chocolate. Allow the cake to cool, then melt the chocolate and drizzle it over the cake.
The cake needs to cool down completely before you cut it. Use a sharp serrated knife for pretty slices. The glaze is very fragile and will break easily.
Expert Tip
Baking the glaze ensures that there is no risk of getting Salmonella from raw eggs. You might find some versions of this cake out there that require glazing the cake with raw egg and allowing it to for a day. I am more comfortable baking the glaze, for safety.
Drizzling melted chocolate is optional, but totally worth it, especially if you take the cake to a party or potluck.
How to store
Store it at room temperature in an airtight container, away from humidity or moisture, for about three to four days. You can also freeze it for three months.
More Recipes To Love
📖 Recipe
Walnut Cake with Egg Yolk Glaze
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 2 cups unsalted butter at room temperature or 4 sticks
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 cups ground walnuts
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 6 egg whites keep the yolks for the glaze
Glaze:
- 6 egg yolks
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 2 ounces melted dark chocolate for decoration Optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking pan.
- In a bowl of a stand mixer, whisk the butter with sugar until light and fluffy.
- Lower the speed of the mixer and add walnuts.
- Add flour spoon by spoon and mix. Set aside.
- In a different bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff.
- Fold them slowly into the batter, mixing gently with a spatula from underneath to the surface.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake it at 350F for 30-40 mins or until golden brown. (if you bake it in a metal pan, the baking time is slightly shorter than in a glass pan)
While the cake is baking, prepare the glaze:
- In a bowl, mix the egg yolks and powdered sugar.
- When the cake is ready, remove it from the oven and pour the egg yolks mixture over the cake. Use a spatula to spread the mixture over the surface.
- Place the cake back into the oven and bake it for an additional 2-3 minutes. Then, turn off the oven and leave the cake inside for another 5 minutes to allow the glaze to harden.
- Wait until the cake completely cools down. Melt the dark chocolate in the microwave and drizzle over the cake.
- Slice the cake in squares using a very sharp serrated knife.
Comments
No Comments