Vera’s Ukrainian Walnut Torte

Submitted by: MARIA FLYNN

UKRAINIAN WALNUT TORTE

Ingredients:

• 2 c. flour

• 2 c. sugar

• 6 eggs separated

• 3 tsp. baking powder

• 1 c. strong black coffee

• 1 c. ground walnuts

• 1 tsp. vanilla

Whip together sugar, egg yolks, and vanilla.  Sift flour and baking powder together and add alternately with black coffee; set aside.  Whip egg whites until stiff and fold into batter.  Add ground nuts.  Grease two springform baking pans with Crisco and sprinkle with flour.  Divide the batter in half and pour it into the cake pans.  Preheat the oven and bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes or until the cake springs back at touch.  Cool upside down for at least one hour.  Take out the one layer and place it on cake serving plate and apply filling/frosting.  Top with another cake layer and apply the rest of the frosting.  Decorate as desired.

Chocolate and Coffee-Flavored Frosting and Filling:

• ½ c coffee

• ½ c milk

• 1 c sugar

• 2 Baker’s semi-sweet chocolate squares

• 2 T flour

• 2 sticks melted butter

• 1 t vanilla or rum

Beat all ingredients together except for chocolate.  Place in small saucepan and add chocolate.  Stir over small flame till chocolate is melted.  If frosting appears runny, add additional flour till thickened.  Cool before frosting cake.  You could place in the freezer for a short while to get the desired consistency.  Sprinkle the first cake layer with Kahlua or any coffee liquor.  (I usually apply with a brush).  Then spread a thin layer of either apricot or currant jelly.  Divide the cake frosting in half and frost the first cake layer.  Place the second cake layer over the first and frost the entire cake with the remaining frosting. 

“Smachnoho!” (Bon Apetit in Ukrainian).