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Moist Chocolate Walnut Cake Recipe

Moist Chocolate Walnut Cake Recipe
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★★★★★

4.7 from 21 reviews

This Moist Chocolate Walnut Cake is a rich and decadent dessert featuring a tender chocolate cake studded with crunchy walnuts and topped with a smooth, glossy chocolate ganache frosting. Perfect for chocolate cake lovers, it combines the deep flavors of cocoa and coffee with the delightful texture of walnuts, making it a crowd-pleasing treat for any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale

Cake Ingredients

  • 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup (75g) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1½ teaspoons baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
  • 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk (or milk + 1 tbsp vinegar)
  • ½ cup (120ml) vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (240ml) hot water or hot coffee (for richer flavor)
  • ¾ cup (90g) chopped walnuts

Chocolate Ganache Frosting Ingredients

  • 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
  • 200g semi-sweet or dark chocolate, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons butter (for shine and smoothness)

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Pans: Preheat your oven to 170°C (340°F). Grease and line two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper to ensure easy removal after baking.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined.
  3. Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate large bowl, beat the granulated sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and well blended. Then add the buttermilk and stir to incorporate fully.
  4. Incorporate Dry Into Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring gently until the batter becomes smooth with no lumps.
  5. Add Hot Liquid: Pour in the hot water or hot coffee slowly while whisking gently. The batter will become thin—this is key to achieving a moist texture in the cake.
  6. Fold in Walnuts: Gently fold the chopped walnuts into the cake batter to distribute them evenly without deflating the mixture.
  7. Bake the Cake: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared cake pans. Bake in the oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  8. Cool the Cakes: Let the cakes cool in their pans for about 10 minutes, then carefully transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
  9. Prepare Ganache: Heat the heavy cream in a saucepan over medium heat until it just starts to steam—do not let it boil. Pour the hot cream over the chopped chocolate placed in a bowl and let it sit for 2 to 3 minutes to melt the chocolate.
  10. Mix Ganache: Stir the cream and chocolate together until smooth and glossy. Add the butter and continue stirring until it melts and the ganache is shiny and silky. Allow it to cool slightly until it thickens to a spreadable consistency.
  11. Frost the Cake: Place one cake layer on your serving board. Spread a layer of ganache over it, then top with the second cake layer. Use the remaining ganache to cover the top and sides of the cake evenly.
  12. Decorate and Serve: Decorate the cake with additional chopped or whole walnuts for an elegant finish. Slice and enjoy your moist chocolate walnut cake!

Notes

  • For a richer chocolate flavor, use strong hot coffee instead of water.
  • You can substitute walnuts with pecans or hazelnuts if preferred.
  • Ensure eggs are at room temperature to help the batter mix evenly.
  • Allow the ganache to cool enough to avoid it running off the cake when spreading.
  • Store any leftover cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.

Nutrition

Keywords: chocolate walnut cake, chocolate cake, moist chocolate cake, walnut dessert, chocolate ganache, baking cake recipe, easy chocolate cake

Find it online: https://maicook.com/moist-chocolate-walnut-cake-recipe/