Walnut Cake – Greek Inspired Recipe (GF Option)

This walnut cake recipe features ground walnuts and a touch of flour combined with a creamy egg mixture, yielding a moist and fluffy texture similar to a walnut sponge cake. Easily made in a sheet pan this walnut coffee cake can be enjoyed as it is, if you want a quick dessert, or layered with frosting for more festive holidays. It’s also naturally dairy free!

Walnut Cake Recipe

There are many types of walnut cakes, most of them are presented as layered cakes, but this cake with walnuts is simple and customizable. Because it’s baked in a sheet pan, you can call it walnut coffee cake or walnut sheet cake.

The ingredients come together in a few minutes, especially when you already have some ground walnuts. This recipe is similar to a Greek walnut cake called “karidopita”, except this one is not syrup-soaked and I also omitted the spices. Is a much simplified cake version with walnuts.

First I tried this cake with walnuts while visiting a dear friend, she gladly shared the recipe and I made it multiple times since then. This “Greek” walnut cake is similar to a sponge cake, therefore by swapping the flour you can easily make a gluten free walnut cake without too much effort.

Just like my gluten free coffee cake with cinnamon streusel, this walnut cake can be enjoyed either warm or cold in your lunch box, as dessert.

Leftover walnut cake, makes a good brunch, by the way.

See This.

Walnut Cake Ingredients

• Walnuts – fresh walnuts ground into flour.
• Eggs – are needed for binding everything together and to provide the sponge like texture without using too much flour.
• Flour – use any you like. I used my gluten free flour mix and it works well. As grain free flours you can use cassava or arrowroot.
• Sugar – any granulated sugar will work. As a healthier version I used maple sugar.
• Oil – as butter replacement, which provides moisture and flexibility.
• Honey – is used in very small proportions, but it gives the walnut cake some extra flavor and sweetness.
• Baking soda – for enhancing the “sponge” effect. I also tried replacing the baking soda with baking powder, and I got the same result.
• Salt – for taste enhancement.

Find the complete printable recipe with measurements below.

How To Make A Walnut Coffee Cake

First prepare a 9×13-inch pan or a 9-inch square pan. Grease the bottom with oil. Preheat oven to 300F (150C).

Step 1. Prepare the dry ingredients:

• Grind the walnuts in a food processor using the pulse motion to get a flour like consistency. Do not overdo it as you can end up with walnut butter instead of flour. 
• Transfer the walnut flour into a bowl and to that add the flour, salt and baking soda, stir with a whisk or a fork to combine. Set aside.

Step 2. Prepare the wet ingredients:

• In another large bowl, crack the eggs (room temperature) and add the maple sugar.
• Beat the eggs and sugar with an electric mixer until light and thickened, about 5 minutes.
• Add the oil and honey and give another final mix to combine.

Step 3. Combine wet with dry ingredients:

• Pour the walnut mixture over egg mixture.
• Proceed with half, mix gently to combine with a spatula, then pour the other half, and continue mixing gently until everything looks homogeneous.

Step 4. Bake the walnut cake:

• Pour the batter into the prepared pan. You can use a 9×13 inch pan or 9-inch square cake pan (if you prefer the walnut cake taller) or a springform.
• Sprinkle anything you like on top, more crushed nuts or seeds would work.
• Make sure you distribute the batter evenly and bake for 55-60 minutes.
• Test the cake with a tooth pick. When it comes out clean you know it’s done.
• Remove the pan from the oven and let walnut cake cool on a rack.

Step 5. Serve:

• When completely cool, unmold the cake by running a thin-bladed knife around the edges to release it from the pan.
• Now you can sprinkle with some powdered sugar if you like.
• Cut into squares, rectangles. Use a flat metal spatula to detach from the bottom.

FAQs For Making Cake With Walnuts

Recipe Variations, Substitutions:

• Make a cinnamon flavored walnut cake – add 1 tsp cinnamon and 1/2 tsp cardamom (optional) to the batter.
• Coffee and walnut cake – add 2 tsp of instant coffee or espresso powder to the batter. I have a similar walnut coffee sponge cake with cinnamon, walnut and coffee flavor all combined!
• Chocolate walnut cake – replace half of the regular flour (2 tablespoons) you’re adding to the batter with 2 tablespoons of cacao powder (2 tbsp cacao powder + 2 tbsp flour), it also taste good when coffee is added to this, it enhances the chocolate flavor. You could also melt some chocolate and drizzle on top of the cake.
• Banana walnut cake – replaced 3 of the eggs with 2 large mashed bananas (or 3 smaller). I have another version of banana cake with frosting that you could also try, or a banana swiss roll cake with carob frosting. They are both gluten and dairy free by the way.
• Apple walnut cake – add one medium grated apple to the batter, similar to my Holiday Bundt Cake.
• Carrot walnut cake – add 2 medium grated carrots to the batter.
• Add dried fruits – chopped dates, raisins, cranberry. Soak them in warm water first.

More Healthy Cakes To Try