Karidopita: Greek Walnut Cake

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Servings: 1 cups Difficulty: Intermediate
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A moist, honey-syrup soaked sponge cake packed with crunchy walnuts and warm spices.
Karidopita: Greek Walnut Cake recipe image
Karidopita: Greek Walnut Cake recipe image
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Karidopita: Greek Walnut Cake

Author: chefs-mate Cooking Method: , Cuisine: Courses:
Difficulty: Intermediate
Servings: 1 cups Calories: 1428.0
Dietary:
V Vegan

Description

Karidopita is a traditional Greek holiday favorite that combines a light, airy egg-white sponge with a generous amount of chopped walnuts. The cake is baked until golden and then immediately drenched in a simple sugar syrup, ensuring every bite is moist and intensely flavorful. Unlike many Western cakes, this dessert relies on no butter or oil, resulting in a lighter texture that lets the nuts shine. Perfect for Christmas, Easter, or any festive gathering, this cake serves beautifully at room temperature and improves in flavor as the syrup penetrates the crumb over several hours.

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan lightly.
  2. In a bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and ground cloves. Set aside.
  3. Using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites on high speed until stiff peaks form. Gradually add 1 cup of sugar while beating until the mixture is stiff, glossy, and holds its shape.
  4. In a separate bowl, beat the egg yolks until thick and pale yellow.
  5. Gently fold the beaten egg yolks into the egg white mixture using a spatula, being careful not to deflate the air.
  6. Fold the sifted dry ingredients into the egg mixture in three additions, mixing gently until just combined.
  7. Fold in the chopped walnuts evenly throughout the batter.
  8. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  9. While the cake bakes, combine the remaining 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes to create a simple syrup. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
  10. Immediately upon removing the cake from the oven, pour the warm syrup evenly over the hot cake. Allow it to soak completely.
  11. Let the cake cool completely in the pan before cutting into diamond shapes or squares for serving.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 1 cups

Amount Per Serving
Calories 1428.0kcal
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 74.4g115%
Saturated Fat 7.0g35%
Cholesterol 0.0mg0%
Sodium 2792.2mg117%
Total Carbohydrate 182.3g61%
Dietary Fiber 9.6g39%
Sugars 123.1g
Protein 23.3g47%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Keywords: greek, walnut cake, karidopita, syrup cake, nut cake, holiday dessert, christmas cake, egg white sponge, cinnamon, cloves, traditional, moist cake, baked dessert, festive, sponge cake, sugar syrup, chopped walnuts, baking, sweet treat
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