Black Walnut Cake

Submitted by ratherbeswimmin

"From Southern Living. One of their all-time favorites."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 55mins
• Ingredients: 17
• Yields: 1 three-layer cake

ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine, softened
• 1⁄2 cup shortening
• 2 cups sugar
• 5 eggs, separated
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped black walnut
• 1 (3 ounce) can flaked coconut
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cream of tartar
• chopped black walnut

• Cream Cheese Frosting

• 3⁄4 cup butter, softened
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 6 3⁄4 cups sifted powdered sugar
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons vanilla extract

directions

1. To make the frosting: in a large mixing bowl, cream butter and cream cheese; gradually add powdered sugar, beating (with an electric mixer) until mixture is light and fluffy.
2. Stir in vanilla; set aside.
3. To make cake: In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and shortening; gradually add sugar, beating well with an electric mixer at medium speed.
4. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
5. In another bowl, combine buttermilk and soda; stir until soda is dissolved.
6. Add flour to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk mixture, beginning and ending with flour.
7. Mix after each addition.
8. Stir in vanilla.
9. Add in 1 cup walnuts and coconut; stir well.
10. In another bowl, beat egg whites (at room temperature) and cream of tartar until stiff peaks form; fold egg white mixture into batter.
11. Pour batter into 3 greased/floured 9-inch round cake pans.
12. Bake in a 350° oven for 22-25 minutes or until pick comes out clean.
13. Cool cakes in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans and let cool completely on wire racks.
14. Spread Cream Cheese Frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake.
15. Press additional chopped walnuts onto sides of cake.

Reviews

[gwynn]

NurseDi, You are unbelieveable. This was outstanding! I can't believe any one hasn't tried this cake yet! The is the most moist cake that I have ever put my mouth on. Had this Thanksgiving night. Everyone raaaaaaved over it! Thanks for helping make our night special!

 

[Charlotte M.]

I love, love, love this cake! A little work but worth the effort. The end result is a slice of heaven.

 

[Acceptance]

I won't rate this only because I don't think it was the recipe that was the issue. My husband grew up with black walnuts so I made this for him. And he ate it, but like Mikey, "he'll eat anything". Getting an honest opinion from him is impossible. I however thought it was horrible. Apparently black walnuts taste nothing like the plain old regular ones. And while I like most things I do NOT like the taste of black walnuts!!!!! It really was awful. And black walnuts are very expensive so that was just salt in the wound. I ended up pitching it because I couldn't even bring myself to give it away. The point of all this is, if you are not familiar with black walnuts, try them before you make this cake. One day I might be brave and try it again and use regular walnuts.