Black Walnut Cake Recipes with Various Frosting Recipes

The following is a delicious black walnut cake recipe. If you have never eaten black walnuts, you need to try them. Unlike other nuts, they have a rich strong flavor all their own.

This cake recipe reminds me of growing up in Ohio and the huge black walnut tree in our yard. It was the biggest tree that I had ever seen back then. It was very common for people to walk our country road to enjoy the scenery. Occasionally someone would stop and ask Dad to sell that tree to them for the wood. Dad always refused to sell the tree even though he always complained about having it in the yard. The walnuts made a mess when they dropped from the tree.

The walnuts are inside deep green strong smelling husks. These have to be removed to get to the walnuts. These husks will stain anything that touches them. Every year our tree produced thousands of walnuts. Dad would have us gather them from the yard and lay in our driveway. Whenever cars would come to our home, they would drive over the walnuts loosen these husk. I use to think these nuts are not worth the effort but now I find myself paying for these black walnuts at the store just to make a black walnut cake recipe.

BLACK WALNUT CAKE RECIPE

• 1 Cup soft butter
• 2 Cups sugar
• 5 Egg whites (room temperature)
• 5 Egg yolks
• 1 Cup buttermilk
• 1 Teaspoon baking soda
• 2 Cups flour
• 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 ½ Cups chopped black walnuts
• 1 Can (3 ½ ounces) flaked coconut
• ½ Teaspoon cream of tartar

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

Grease and flour 3 eight inch round cake baking pans.

In a large mixing bowl cream together the butter and sugar; add the egg yolks and beat well.

Add the soda to the buttermilk and stir until soda dissolves.

Add the flour alternately with the buttermilk to the creamed mixture; beat well after each addition.

By hand stir in the vanilla, walnuts and coconut.

Beat egg whites with cream of tartar until stiff peaks form; Fold whites into the batter.

Pour batter evenly into the three prepared pans and bake for 30 minutes or until pick comes out clean.

Cool for 10 minutes, remove from pans and set until cold.

Spread the following frosting recipe between layers, on sides and top of cakes.

Garnish with additional black walnuts.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING RECIPE

• ¾ Cup soft butter
• 11 Ounces soft cream cheese
• 6 ¾ Cups sifted powdered sugar
• 1 ½ Teaspoons vanilla extract

Cream the butter and cheese until smooth; gradually add the sugar beating until light and fluffy. Stir in the vanilla.

BLACK WALNUT CAKE RECIPE WITH SOUR CREAM FROSTING

• 2 Cups sifted flour
  
• 2 ¼ Teaspoons baking powder
  
• ¼ Teaspoon salt
  
• 2/3 Cup shortening
  
• 1 ½ Cups sugar
  
• 1 Teaspoon vanilla
  
• 3 Egg yolks beaten
  
• ¾ Cup milk
  
• 1 ½ Cups ground black walnuts
  
• 3 Egg whites stiffly beaten
  
  

Sift flour, baking powder and salt.
Cream shortening and sugar together; add beaten yolks and beat thoroughly.
Add sifted dry ingredients and milk alternating; beat well after each addition.
Blend in nuts; fold in beaten egg whites.
Pour into 2 greased and floured 9 inch cake pans.
Bake at 350F degrees for 30 minutes or until pick comes out clean.
Cool completely and frost.

Sour Cream Frosting:

• 1 ½ Cups granulated sugar
  
• ½ Cup firmly packed brown sugar
  
• ½ Teaspoon salt
  
• 1 Cup sour cream
  
• ¼ Cup softened butter
  
• 1 Teaspoon vanilla
  
• 2 Cups powdered sugar
  

Combine first 5 ingredients in saucepan and place over medium heat.
Cook mixture while stirring until it begins to boil.
Lower heat and simmer 5 minutes to form a thin thread.
Remove from heat and pour into small bowl.
Cool 10 minutes and add vanilla; beat for 5 minutes or until reaches room temperature.
Beat in powdered sugar a little at a time until it reaches desired spreading consistency.

BLACK WALNUT CAKE RECIPE WITH CARAMEL FROSTING

• 2 ¼ Cups flour
  
• 1 Cup packed brown sugar
  
• ½ Cup white sugar
  
• 3 Medium eggs
  
• 1 Cup buttermilk
  
• ½ Cup chopped black walnuts
  
• ½ Teaspoon baking soda
  
• 1 Teaspoon baking powder
  
• ½ Cup softened butter
  
• 1 Teaspoon vanilla
  
  

Cream butter and sugar; stir soda in buttermilk.
Combine all ingredients of recipe except for nuts in large mixing bowl.
Beat about 4 minutes or until blended; stir in the nuts.
Pour batter into 2 greased and floured 9 inch cake pans.
Bake at 350F degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until pick comes out clean.
Remove from pans and cool completely before frosting.

Caramel Frosting:

• 2 Cups brown sugar
  
• Slightly under 1 cup heavy cream
  
• 1 Tablespoon butter
  
• ½ Teaspoon vanilla
  
  

Combine all frosting ingredients in saucepan over moderate heat.
Cook until a soft ball forms when dropped in cold water.
Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla; cool and beat icing until thick.
Spread between layers and on top and sides of cake.

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