Walnut Mocha Torte (Gluten-free)

Updated: 9th December 2025 · Published: 17th October 2013

Walnut Mocha Torte with whipped cream and mocha frosting is the perfect gluten-free celebration cake, ideal for birthdays, Christmas, and other special occasions!

Two crispy, chewy walnut cake layers (think meringue crossed with macaroon) are sandwiched together with freshly whipped cream and topped with a mocha frosting. This is one heavenly cake!

Walnut Mocha Torte, close up of half the cake on a white platter at a 45 degree angle.

Walnut Mocha Torte Background

I was listening to a lovely radio interview with my favourite food writer, Nigel Slater, the other day, where he said his favourite cake was Coffee & Walnut.

When I told my daughter, she said she loved this cake too. I don’t know where she’s had it, as I have never made it, not being a coffee fan!

Anyway, I think the subliminal message stuck in my head when I wanted to create a cake to celebrate Chocolate Week.

I decided to create a show-stopper cake with walnuts, chocolate and coffee, basing it on a smaller hazelnut torte my mother used to make.

Why You’ll Love This Walnut Torte

This Walnut Mocha Torte is a feast for the senses with a rich blend of flavours and textures.

The cake layers have a crispy, meringue-like outer shell on one side and are nutty and chewy on the other side (similar to macaroon).

The coffee brings out the full intensity of the cocoa and is not a predominant flavour, although you could add more if desired!

Then the whipped cream gives cool refreshment to contrast the sweetness of the walnut cake layers and mocha frosting.

When entertaining, this is a great make-ahead dessert that can be prepared the day before and stored in the fridge.

As walnuts are so good for you, I think some guilt can be traded off when eating this decadent torte!

Did you know that compared to many other nuts, such as almonds, peanuts and hazelnuts, walnuts (especially in their raw form) contain the highest total level of antioxidants?

What My Family Thought

It was so funny the day I made this torte, my daughter talked about it to her dad all the way home from school, as she knew I was baking and had helped me shop for the ingredients.

Once home, she stormed into the kitchen and demanded to know if anyone had eaten any torte yet. I told her I’d just cut a slice, which was waiting for her in the fridge.

You’ve never seen a coat and bag shed so quickly, and a cake fork and plate retrieved from the fridge!

Her eyes were like saucers when I asked her how it was – all she could say was that she was speechless while she continued to eat.

Next, my son came through the door and asked what I’d been baking.

I told him, and he said he wasn’t keen on cream, so I cut him a small slice.

Five minutes later, he’d helped himself to another slice! On finishing her torte, my daughter gave it a million out of 10, and my son said it was the best thing I’d ever made.

Needless to say, my husband loved it, and as my parents had popped round, I gave them a portion to take away, and they loved it too.

My husband wants me to make this at Christmas, so that’s one less dish to decide on!

If anyone in your family has coeliac disease, my Walnut Mocha Torte is perfect for them as it’s naturally gluten-free!

Update

It was my birthday at the beginning of December, so rather than buy a fancy cake from a patisserie, I decided to make my Walnut Mocha Torte.

Dare I say it was better than any cake I could have ordered, plus with the money I saved, I used organic ingredients, so it tasted even better than usual!

That’s a photo of my birthday torte below, which I took at my parents’ house!

Pin gluten-free Walnut Mocha Torte for later!

Walnut Mocha Torte on a platter with lit birthday candle. Plates, napkins and a vase of flowers in the background. Pinterest image.

Leave a comment and rating below when you’ve made this recipe; I love getting your feedback! You can also share your pictures by tagging @FabFood4All over on Instagram.

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