Let’s transport ourselves to the enchanting flavors of Greece with a festive Christmas baking tradition, the Karydopita Me Gliko Karithi Walnut Cake with Syrup. This delightful dessert embodies the warmth and coziness of the holiday season with its rich blend of nuts, spices, and aromatic syrup. The delicious combination of walnuts and cinnamon will fill your home with a heavenly scent that will surely evoke memories of joyful gatherings around the table.
**Ingredients:**
– 2 cups of walnuts, finely chopped
– 1 cup of all-purpose flour
– 1 teaspoon of baking powder
– 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
– 1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves
– 1/4 teaspoon of salt
– 4 eggs, room temperature
– 1 cup of sugar
– 1/2 cup of vegetable oil
– 1/4 cup of orange juice
– Zest of 1 orange
**Syrup:**
– 1 cup of water
– 1 cup of sugar
– 1 cinnamon stick
– 4-5 whole cloves
– Juice of half a lemon
**Instructions:**
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter. Set it aside.
2. In a bowl, combine the finely chopped walnuts, all-purpose flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and salt. Mix well to ensure an even distribution of the dry ingredients. Set the mixture aside.
3. In a separate large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar together until pale and fluffy.
4. Gradually whisk in the vegetable oil, orange juice, and orange zest until fully incorporated.
5. Gradually fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients until just combined. Be careful not to overmix to keep the cake tender.
6. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly with a spatula.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for about 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
8. While the cake is baking, prepare the syrup. In a saucepan, combine the water, sugar, cinnamon stick, and cloves. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 5-7 minutes.
9. Remove the syrup from the heat and stir in the lemon juice. Allow the syrup to cool while the cake finishes baking.
10. Once the cake is done, remove it from the oven and immediately pour the cooled syrup over the hot cake, ensuring it is evenly distributed.
11. Let the cake sit for at least an hour to allow the syrup to absorb and the flavors to meld together.
12. Serve the Karydopita Me Gliko Karithi Walnut Cake with Syrup at room temperature, garnished with a sprinkle of powdered sugar and additional chopped walnuts if desired.
Enjoy this delightful Greek Christmas baking tradition with your loved ones during the holiday season. The nutty richness of the walnuts combined with the aromatic spices and sweet syrup will surely bring comfort and joy to your festive celebrations. Happy baking!
