Coffee and Walnut Cake Recipe

Ingredients

• 150g unsalted butter, softened
• 150g caster sugar
• 3 large eggs, beaten
• 150g self raising flour

½

• tsp baking powder
• 2tsp coffee granules dissolved in a little boiling water
• 50g walnuts, roasted and chopped

For the coffee syrup:

• 2tbsp light muscovado sugar
• 1tbsp coffee granules mixed with 2tbsp boiling water and 1tbsp Camp coffee essence

For the coffee buttercream:

• 50g unsalted butter, softened
• 100g icing sugar, sifted
• 2tsp coffee granules mixed with 1tbsp boiling water

For the coffee glacé icing:

• 75g icing sugar, sifted
• 2tsp coffee granules mixed with 1tbsp boiling water
• 75g walnut pieces, for decoration

You will need:

• 2 x 20cm loose-bottomed sandwich tins, greased and base-lined with baking parchment paper

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180 C, 160 C fan, gas 4. Place the butter and caster sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat for 5 minutes until very pale and creamy. Gradually add the eggs a little at a time, beating continuously until all incorporated.
2. Sift together the flour and baking powder and gently fold into the butter mixture along with the dissolved coffee and the walnuts.
3. Divide the mixture evenly between the tins, smoothing the top with a palette knife. Bake on the centre shelf of the oven for 20-25 minutes or until well risen and golden brown.
   
4. While the cakes are baking, make the coffee syrup. Place all the ingredients in a bowl and stir until it has all dissolved.
5. Pour the coffee syrup evenly over both sponges while they are still in the tins. Allow the cakes to cool completely before turning out on to a wire rack.
6. To make the coffee buttercream, place the softened butter in the bowl of an electric mixer, add the sifted icing sugar and dissolved coffee, and beat until smooth. If the icing is a little stiff then add a few more drops of boiling water until you have a spreadable consistency.
7. For the finishing touch, make the glacé icing. Place the icing sugar and dissolved coffee in a bowl and beat until smooth, adding more boiling water until you have a glossy, spreadable consistency. To assemble the cake, place one cake on a large plate, spread over the coffee buttercream and sandwich with the other cake. Be careful not to let it break. Spread the glacé icing over the top and decorate with the walnut pieces.