Walnut Mocha Torte is for lovers of walnuts, chocolate and coffee. Two walnut cake layers with a texture similar to macaroons (crispy on the outside and gooey in the middle) are sandwiched with freshly whipped cream and topped with a mocha frosting! It’s the perfect gluten-free dessert for entertaining!
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. On telling 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 come up with a show-stopper cake with walnuts, chocolate and coffee and based it on a smaller hazelnut torte my mother used to make.
This Walnut Mocha Torte is a feast of flavours and textures. It has a crispy, macaroon-like outer shell and a nutty and chewy centre. The coffee brings out the full intensity of the cocoa and is not a predominant flavour although you could add more if you wanted to!
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 like almonds, peanuts and hazelnuts, walnuts (especially in their raw form) contain the highest total level of antioxidants?
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 around 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!
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.
Walnut Mocha Torte
Ingredients
- 3 Large eggs
- 225 g Castor sugar
- 135 g Ground walnuts
- 400 ml Whipping cream (save some for decoration)
Mocha Frosting
- 4 tbsp Milk
- 50 g Unsalted butter
- 50 g Cocoa powder
- 1 tsp Instant coffee diluted in 1tsp hot water
- 200 g Icing Sugar
Decoration
- Walnut halves
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200°C.
- Grease and line two 20cm sandwich tins with baking paper.
- Whisk the eggs and sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Fold in the ground walnuts.
- Divide the mixture equally between the two tins (weighing is a good idea).
- Bake for 24 minutes until golden.
- Allow to cool in the tins before putting on cooling rack and removing paper. The top will be like meringue and the base will be more nutty and chewy.
- Whip the cream until forms soft peaks (a hand whisk is best to avoid over whipping).
- Sandwich the 2 layers of torte together leaving enough cream for decoration.
- Put milk and butter in a saucepan and heat until boiling then tip in the cocoa and simmer for 30 seconds.
- Add the dissolved coffee and beat in the icing sugar gradually. If it goes grainy just add another tsp of hot water and beat well.
- Spread the frosting on top of the cake, spreading out with a palette knife.
- Pipe on the rest of the cream and decorate with walnut halves.
This Walnut Mocha Torte previously appeared on Great British Chefs.
Lisa Williams
This would be good for my Christmas dessert I am not such a huge fan of the regular stuff so am on the look out for something a bit different if you have any suggestions
Camilla
Danish Rice Pudding Risalamande is what I grew up on: https://www.fabfood4all.co.uk/risalamande-cherry-sauce/
William Gould
I love walnut cake, so this must be really good!
Camilla
It is the best gateux ever – something for a special occassion:-)
Maddy
Could this be made without the coffee? Would you suggest any substitute or just leave it out?
Thanks
Camilla
I hate coffee and never drink the stuff but it just intensifies the chocolate flavour here and if a favourite dessert of my daughter’s. If you really don’t like it then just leave it out!
Paul Wilson
Walnuts are very healthy, and quite under-used imo.
Ann Robinson
This looks great and i could do with a slice now
Paul Wilson
Load of filling, my favourite
bev
Another delicious looking dish!
Geoff Clark
Yummy pud, just what I want!
Heather Haigh
What an elegant looking cake.
Ursula Hunt
Tried this with Pecans instead of walnuts and it was lovely
Camilla
I love Pecans, that’s great to know Ursula:-)
Tracy Nixon
Great thank you for sharing! I have shared too x
Maya Russell
Mmmm, nutty, creamy, chocolaty with a bit of coffee – a lovely cake for grown-ups!
Camilla
My kids loved this too, my 10 yr old daughter has a thing for coffee in cakes!
K Mayers
At first this struck me as a bit odd but having read through it, I’ll be happy to try it as everything seems ideal together. Thank you for this 🙂
Tracy Nixon
I have given this recipe to my mum – she always bakes me a birthday cake of my choice and this is the one for 2014! ( I had bookmarked this for Christmas but cannot wait another 11+ months!)
Camilla
You won’t be disappointed:-)
Ursula Hunt
I was just looking for a walnut and coffee cake when I remembered this one, think I will do this instead
Camilla
Oh yes, you won’t be disappointed:-)
Ursula Hunt
Was looking for a walnut and coffee cake but think i will give this a try
Camilla
You won’t be disappointed. Think I’m going to make the bases before Christmas and then freeze for Boxing Day:-)
mandalouise
This looks so yummy,wish my cakes looked like that
Tracy Nixon
Bookmarked for Christmas!
Camilla
I don’t blame you, would be a great treat for Christmas:-)
Lisa Williams
this looks absolutly stunning really amazing and I have to admit I am drooling a little 🙂
Camilla
Thank you, my daughter is still pining for another one:-)
Sue Stevenson
Looks too nice to slice!! A little too much dairy in that one for me;
faye huntington
this would be incredible for boxing day dessert!! with love, faye xx
Camilla
Oh yes, my daughter even requested I make this again the other day but I think I’ll leave it til Christmas, it’s very naughty:-)
Jill Mann
Looks really yummy – I’m going to make it for this month’s staff meeting x
Camilla
Not sure you’ll get much work done then, my daughter was rendered speachless whilst eating hers:-)
Annie Costa
I can imagine myself eating a big slice of this with a cup of tea at hand.Looks divine!
Daisybeebee
This looks amazing, in my must try book now.
Camilla
It is, you won’t regret it:-)
Jane Brown
Looks amazing, although I must admit I am also drawn to the flying pumpkin!
Mrs T
Looks amazing – must try!
Mrs T
Looks amazing – must try it.
Ursula Hunt
Giving this a go this afternoon hope it ends up looking as nice as yours
Camilla
Good luck, do let me know how you get on:-)
Denise
A friend of mine just told me about your blog and also “Cooking With Mr. C.” on Facebook. (also a blog) A combo of food and celebrity. I’m so glad when people share blogs. Denise
Camilla
That’s lovely to hear:-)
Heather Haigh
Wow, that looks good.
Camilla
Thank you:-)
DANIELLE VEDMORE
Now Camilla you have outdone yourself! That looks scrumptious! I love anything with coffee in – mmmmm!
Camilla
Aaw, you’re very kind Danielle, thank you:-)
Camilla
Aww thanks Danielle, you’re very kind:-)
carol egan
This looks absolutely delicious – I’m drooling just looking at it!!
Camilla
Thank you so much, it was certainly drool enducing:-)
Alida
This cake is simply fab! I love the presentation and it must be delicious too! Well done you!
Camilla
Thank you Alida, so kind:-)
Alida
This cake is simply fabulous!It must be ever so delicious! I love the presentation too!
Ursula Hunt
looks delicious
Camilla
Thank you Ursula:-)
Beth Young
This looks wonderfully moist! Can’t think of anything better than chocolate coffee and walnut in a cake!
Camilla
Nor can I now:-)
prwilson
I’d say that qualifies as a shopstopper.