Maple Walnut Cake
This moist, Maple Walnut Cake recipe is so flavorful and perfect for fall gatherings, Thanksgiving, and more!
Servings: 15 servings
Ingredients
- 1 ½ sticks (170g) unsalted butter, softened. (holds it shape but dents when pressed)
- 1¼ cups white sugar (250g)
- ½ cup light brown sugar (100g)
- ½ cup pure maple syrup (We used dark maple syrup. Amber is fine as well but will have a lighter flavor.)
- 4 large eggs, room temperature (If in a hurry, place eggs in a bowl of warm water for 5 minutes.)
- 3 cups cake flour (342g)See notes for substitution if needed. (If not using a scale, lightly spoon flour into measuring cup and level off).
- 2 teaspoons baking powder (8g)
- ½ teaspoon baking soda (3g)
- ½ teaspoon salt (3g)
- 1 ¼ cups buttermilk (296g) See notes for substitution if needed.
- ¼ cup vegetable oil (54g) (We use canola oil.)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (8g)
- 3 teaspoons maple extract (12g) (We used McCormick Brand)
- ¾ cup finely chopped walnuts
For the Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
- 3 sticks unsalted butter, slightly softened (339g)
- 16 oz cream cheese (total weight 452g),softened. (We use two 8 oz packages) Full fat is best.
- 2 teaspoons maple extract (8g) (adjust amount to your liking)
- ½ teaspoon salt (2g)
- 6½-7 cups powdered sugar (adjust slightly up or down to your liking) (805g)
Maple Glaze
- We used pure Maple Syrup as a glaze for our cake layers - You won't need much- maybe ¼ cup or so in total. Enough to apply a light coating to the top of each layer.
Cake Decoration
- Decorate however you like! We used additional crushed walnuts to create a bottom border, and piped scrollwork with a round tip 3.
Instructions
Prepare Pans
- Grease and flour three 8 inch round pans, add a circle or parchment paper or waxed paper to the bottom.
For the Cake Layers
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt for 30 seconds. Set aside
- In another bowl, add the buttermilk, maple syrup, vegetable oil and extracts (maple and vanilla). Set aside..
- In the bowl of your mixer, add the butter and mix at medium speed until smooth.
- Gradually add the brown and white sugar and continue to mix on medium speed for 3 to 5 minutes until lightened in color and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time mixing after each addition until the yellow of the yolk has blended.
- With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients (3 additions of dry ingredients and 2 of liquid). Mix just until incorporated.
- Fold in the chopped walnuts.
- Divide batter between the three cake pans.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 22 - 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with just few crumbs attached. Let cool 10 minutes and turn out. Bake times may vary- peek in as the end time approaches.
For the Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
- Cut the butter into slices and add to the bowl of your mixer. Beat on low to medium speed until the butter is softened and smooth.
- Cut the softened cream cheese into pieces and add to the butter, beating at low to medium speed until incorporated. If you are using a hand mixer you may need to soften the cream cheese a bit more.
- Add the maple extract. Gradually add the powdered sugar beating on low speed until blended. Cover the bowl with a towel if needed to keep down the cloud of powdered sugar.
- Increase mixing speed slightly until well combined. Be careful not to over-mix as it will become very soft. (If this happens, chill it in the refrigerator for a bit.)
- This frosting will pipe best if used while still chilled. You can make it in advance, refrigerate and then bring out to the kitchen counter to soften up a bit. (Re-mix if needed).
- Will frost and fill a 3 layer 8 or 9 inch cake.
Assembling the Cake
- Place the first *cooled* cake layer on a cake base or pedestal. Brush with a thin layer of maple syrup. This is an optional step. It is not needed for moistness, but it does add an added boost of maple flavor.
- Spread a layer of maple cream cheese frosting on top of the cake layer. Add a light sprinkling of finely crushed walnuts if you'd like. Add the second layer and repeat step(s). After lightly glazing the final cake layer, I placed it glazed-side down on top. It may not make a difference but I did this just in case it would make it easier to frost.
- Next, fill in any gaps between the cake layers with frosting and apply a thin coat of frosting (or crumb coat) around the top and sides of the cake. At this point we like to chill the cake for about 15 minutes in the freezer to firm up the frosting. This firms everything up and prevents the layers from sliding as you decorate. Apply the final coat of frosting.
Decorating the Cake
- Decorate the cake however you like! We added a bottom border of crushed walnuts, and piped scrollwork around the sides using a small round tip 3.
Storing the Cake
- This cake should be refrigerated in an airtight container or under a cake dome until within 2-3 hours of serving. Bringing the cake closer to room temperature before serving will give the cake and frosting time to warm and soften.
Notes
Substitute for Buttermilk: No Buttermilk? Here is a substitution: To a measuring cup, add 1 Tablespoons vinegar or lemon juice. Add milk to the 1 ¼ mark, stir. Wait 5 minutes and it is ready to use.
Substitution for Cake Flour: Using all purpose flour (plain in UK) to make Cake Flour: For each cup of flour in a recipe, remove 2 Tablespoons of flour and replace with 2 Tablespoons cornstarch (cornflour in the UK). This recipe has 3 cups of flour so you will measure out 3 cups of all purpose flour, remove 6 Tablespoons and replace with 6 Tablespoons cornstarch, whisk to blend
Recipe makes 7 ½ cups batter