Walnut Cake with a Hint of Rosemary
Rosemary contributes an ever-so-subtle fragrance to this luxurious cake. Whole-wheat flour blends in seamlessly because its nutty flavor complements the walnuts.
Ingredients
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3/4 cup walnuts
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1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour, (see Ingredient notes)
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3/4 cup all-purpose flour
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1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
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1/2 teaspoon baking soda
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1/4 teaspoon salt
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1 cup buttermilk
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1/4 cup mild olive oil, or canola oil
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4 teaspoons very finely chopped fresh rosemary
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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1/2 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
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2 large eggs, at room temperature (see Tip)
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2 large egg whites, at room temperature, or 4 teaspoons dried egg whites (see Ingredient Note), reconstituted according to package directions
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1 1/4 cups sugar
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1 cup Vanilla Cream, (recipe follows)
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Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
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2 cups mixed fresh berries, (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries)
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Rosemary sprigs for garnish
Directions
1.
Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 350 degrees F. Coat a 10-inch (12-cup) Bundt pan, preferably nonstick, with cooking spray.
2.
Spread walnuts in a small baking pan and toast in the oven until fragrant, 4 to 6 minutes. Let cool.
3.
Place walnuts, whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a food processor; process until walnuts are finely ground.
4.
Combine buttermilk, oil, rosemary, vanilla and lemon zest in a glass measuring cup.
5.
Place eggs, egg whites and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on high speed for 5 minutes. The mixture should be thickened and pale.
6.
With a rubber spatula, alternately fold the dry ingredients and buttermilk mixture into the egg mixture, making 3 additions of the dry and 2 additions of liquid. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan, spreading evenly.
7.
Bake the cake until the top springs back when touched lightly and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Loosen the edges and turn the cake out onto the rack to cool completely.
8.
Meanwhile, make Vanilla Cream.
9.
To serve, set the cake on a platter and dust with confectioners' sugar. Garnish with berries and rosemary sprigs. Serve each piece with a dollop of Vanilla Cream and some berries.
Tips:
Ingredient notes:
Whole-wheat pastry flour is milled from soft wheat. It contains less gluten than regular whole-wheat flour and helps ensure a tender result in delicate baked goods while providing the nutritional benefits of whole grains. Store in the freezer. Available in large supermarkets and in natural-foods stores.
Dried egg whites are pasteurized so this product is a wise choice in dishes that call for an uncooked meringue. They are also convenient in recipes calling for egg whites because there is no waste. Look for brands like Just Whites in the baking or natural-foods section of most supermarkets.
Tips:
To bring cold eggs to room temperature quickly, place in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes; they will beat to a greater volume.
To separate eggs safely: Use an egg separator, an inexpensive gadget found in cookware stores; separating eggs the traditional way, by passing the yolk back and forth between pieces of egg shell or your hands, can expose eggs to bacteria.
MAKE AHEAD TIP: Equipment: 12-cup bundt pan
Nutrition information
Calories 230, Total Fat 8 g, Saturated Fat 1 g, Monounsaturated Fat 3 g, Cholesterol 27 mg, Sodium 154 mg, Carbohydrate 29 g, Fiber 2 g, Protein 4 g, Potassium 81 mg. Exchanges: Starch 2,Fat 2.
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet
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