Karithopita Spiced Walnut Cake

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Servings: 12 servings Difficulty: Advanced
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A dense, moist Greek walnut cake soaked in a fragrant honey-lemon syrup with warm spices.
Karithopita Spiced Walnut Cake recipe image
Karithopita Spiced Walnut Cake recipe image
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Karithopita Spiced Walnut Cake

Author: chefs-mate Cooking Method: , , Cuisine: Courses:
Difficulty: Advanced
Servings: 12 servings Calories: 346

Description

This traditional Greek Karithopita is a celebration of simple, robust flavors. The cake itself is dense and rich with walnuts, held together by a batter of Bisquick, eggs, and milk, flavored with cinnamon and cloves. What truly sets this dessert apart is the soaking syrup. A mixture of sugar, water, honey, and citrus peel is simmered to create an aromatic glaze that penetrates the warm cake, ensuring every bite is moist and sweet. The combination of orange and lemon peel adds a bright, zesty contrast to the earthy nuts. It is an ideal treat for holidays or as a special afternoon coffee companion. While it contains a significant amount of sugar and nuts, the complex spice profile keeps it from being overly cloying. Serve it slightly warm or at room temperature for the best experience.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the eggs, Bisquick, cinnamon, salt, ground cloves, baking powder, sugar, chopped walnuts, milk, and vegetable oil.
  3. Blend the mixture with an electric mixer on medium speed for 5 minutes until smooth.
  4. Increase mixer speed to high and beat the batter for an additional 15 seconds.
  5. Pour the batter into a 10 x 14 inch baking pan that is 2 1/2 inches deep.
  6. Bake for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  7. Remove the cake from the oven and let it sit in the pan for 2 hours to cool slightly.
  8. While the cake cools, prepare the syrup: In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, water, orange peel, lemon peel, and cinnamon stick.
  9. Bring the syrup ingredients to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
  10. Add the honey to the saucepan and bring the mixture back to a boil.
  11. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the lemon juice.
  12. Allow the syrup to cool slightly, then remove and discard the orange peel, lemon peel, and cinnamon stick.
  13. Evenly spread the warm syrup over the surface of the cake.
  14. Sprinkle the top of the cake with the remaining walnuts and ground cinnamon.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 12 servings

Amount Per Serving
Calories 346kcal
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 25.9g40%
Saturated Fat 3.3g17%
Cholesterol 35mg12%
Sodium 643mg27%
Total Carbohydrate 27.8g10%
Dietary Fiber 2.5g10%
Sugars 23.8g
Protein 4.9g10%

* 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: baking, bisquick, cake, cinnamon, cloves, dessert, eggs, greek, honey, karithopita, lemon, milk, orange, spiced, syrup, walnuts
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