Mary Berry Date And Walnut Cake Recipes

MARY BERRY'S COFFEE AND WALNUT CAKE

Steps:

• Start by making the sponge.
• In a bowl, add the butter and sugar and cream until smooth.
• Add the eggs one by one, mixing well to incorporate.
• Add the sifted flour, instant coffee, baking powder and chopped walnuts, and mix well.
• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 Fahrenheit).
• Grease and flour 2 round cake tins with detachable walls (mine have a diameter of 20 cm /8 inches).
• Pour the batter in, and level it with the back of a spoon or a spatula.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the middle of the cakes comes out clean.
• Transfer to a cooling wrack and leave to cool completely.
• To make the icing, sift the icing sugar, add the soften butter, expresso coffee and milk to a food processor, and blitz until smooth.
• Spread half of the icing over the first sponge, top with the second sponge, and ice the top with the remaining buttercream.
• Decorate with walnut halves.

MARY BERRY'S COFFEE AND WALNUT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4. Lightly butter two loose-bottomed 18cm/7in sandwich tins and line the bases with baking paper.
• Put the butter, sugar, eggs, flour, baking powder, walnuts and coffee essence in a large mixing bowl and beat together (using an electric hand whisk if you have one) until well combined and smooth.
• Divide the mixture evenly between the tins. Level the surface using a spatula or the back of a spoon.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until an inserted skewer comes out clean. Leave the cakes to cool in the tins for 5 minutes, then run a small palette knife or rounded butter knife around the edge of the tins and carefully turn the cakes out onto a wire rack. Peel off the paper and leave to cool completely.
• For the filling and topping, beat the butter and gradually add the icing sugar. Add the milk and coffee essence and beat until smooth.
• Choose the cake with the best top, then put the other cake top-down onto a serving plate and spread with half the coffee icing. Sandwich together with the other half. Ice the top of the cake and decorate with the walnut pieces to serve.

DATE AND WALNUT CAKE

Steps:

• Place the dates in a bowl with the butter and bicarbonate of soda. Pour over the boiling water and stir until the butter has melted. Set aside to cool.
• Preheat the oven to 180ºC (350ºF, gas mark 4). Lightly grease an 18 cm (7 in) round deep cake tin and line the bottom with baking parchment.
• Place the sugar and eggs in a large bowl and beat well to combine. Add the cooled date mixture, then sift in the flour, baking powder, mixed spice and salt. Add the walnuts and stir together until thoroughly mixed.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and level the top. Bake for 1-1 1/4 hours or until the cake is risen and nicely browned and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.
• Turn out onto a wire rack and leave to cool. The cake can be kept, wrapped in foil or stored in an airtight container, for up to 5 days.