Akshayapatram

photo credit: avlxyz

Cakes are my weakness. More than having them, I love baking it for my friends and family . Cappuccino Walnut Gateaux is an absolute delight and sinfully delicious

All purpose flour (Maida)– 150 gms
Sugar powder – 200 gms
Eggs – 2 nos.
Butter – 150 gms
Vanilla essence – 1 tsp
Baking powder – 1 tsp
Coffee liquor / Kahlua* – 1 Tbsp
Coffee powder cappuccino flavor – 1 tsp
Praline – 1 Tbsp (for caramelized nuts)

1. In a pan dry heat 2 Tbsp of sugar, 3 tbsp of walnuts (broken). Add the walnuts while the sugar melts into honey color
2. Keep stirring after adding the walnuts on a low flame
3. Grease a tray and pour the caramelized walnut and let it cool before powdering it (Praline)
4. Beat the butter in a bowl using an electric beater. Beat only in one direction till fluffy
5. Add sugar powder and continue beating in one direction till nice and fluffy
6. Add the eggs one at a time and blend in one direction
7. Add vanilla essence and beat
8. Add coffee liquor / Kahlua and coffee powder. Continue beating in one direction
9. Sieve maida or all purpose flour along with baking powder
10. Add all purpose flour to the prepared butter mixture little by little (about 2 Tbsp) and keep beating with an electric beater
11. Now add remaining flour with a spoon and mix lightly in cut and fold method with a spatula till you get a semi thick consistency
12. Grease the mould and spread the butter paper and re grease
13. Pour half of the batter in the center of the mould and sprinkle around 2 Tbsp of praline on top of it
14. Pour remaining of the batter and mix it with a spatula. This process is called spanning
15. Push the batter up on the sides so that it forms a dip in the centre. This is done to have uniformity else cakes tend to rise higher towards the center
16. Bake in a preheated oven for about 25 minutes at 180 degree C or 350 degree F or adjust according to your oven; since the timings vary from oven to oven

*If you do not have coffee liquor you can use 1-2 tbsp rum mixed with 1 tsp of instant coffee powder

Either you can serve as it or proceed with icing

Icing

1. Split the cake (after cooling) in to 2 halves
2. Add 1 to 1.5 tsp of instant coffee powder o butter icing
3. You can also add rum / coffee liquor to the butter icing
4. Spread icing on 1st half
5. Place the 2nd half of the cake and spread the butter cream / icing on top and all sides
6. Saute walnuts in butter
7. Decorate your cake with your imagination with sauted walnuts and praline