Walnut Cake Mary Berry Food

MARY BERRY'S COFFEE AND WALNUT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4. Lightly butter two loose-bottomed 18cm/7in sandwich tins and line the bases with baking paper.
• Put the butter, sugar, eggs, flour, baking powder, walnuts and coffee essence in a large mixing bowl and beat together (using an electric hand whisk if you have one) until well combined and smooth.
• Divide the mixture evenly between the tins. Level the surface using a spatula or the back of a spoon.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until an inserted skewer comes out clean. Leave the cakes to cool in the tins for 5 minutes, then run a small palette knife or rounded butter knife around the edge of the tins and carefully turn the cakes out onto a wire rack. Peel off the paper and leave to cool completely.
• For the filling and topping, beat the butter and gradually add the icing sugar. Add the milk and coffee essence and beat until smooth.
• Choose the cake with the best top, then put the other cake top-down onto a serving plate and spread with half the coffee icing. Sandwich together with the other half. Ice the top of the cake and decorate with the walnut pieces to serve.

MARY BERRY'S MAPLE SYRUP CAKE

Steps:

• You will need a deep, round, 8 inch cake tin.
• Lightly grease the cake tin and line the base with a circle of nonstick baking parchment.
• Pre-heat the oven to 325.
• Put all the ingredients for the cake except the pecan nuts into a large mixing bowl and mix well until evenly blended; an electric mixer is best for this but, of course, you can also beat by hand with a wooden spoon.
• Stir in the chopped pecan nuts.
• Spoon the mixture into the prepared cake tin and level the surface.
• Bake for 1-11⁄2 hours, until well risen, golden and springy to the touch.
• Allow to cool slightly, then turn the cake out onto a wire rack, peel off the lining paper and leave to cool completely.
• Whip the cream until it just holds its shape and then fold in the maple syrup.
• Split the cake horizontally into three and fill and cover with the cream, using a small palette knife to smooth it evenly over the top and sides.
• Decorate the top with the shredded orange zest.
• Store in the refrigerator.

DATE AND WALNUT CAKE

Steps:

• Place the dates in a bowl with the butter and bicarbonate of soda. Pour over the boiling water and stir until the butter has melted. Set aside to cool.
• Preheat the oven to 180ºC (350ºF, gas mark 4). Lightly grease an 18 cm (7 in) round deep cake tin and line the bottom with baking parchment.
• Place the sugar and eggs in a large bowl and beat well to combine. Add the cooled date mixture, then sift in the flour, baking powder, mixed spice and salt. Add the walnuts and stir together until thoroughly mixed.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and level the top. Bake for 1-1 1/4 hours or until the cake is risen and nicely browned and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.
• Turn out onto a wire rack and leave to cool. The cake can be kept, wrapped in foil or stored in an airtight container, for up to 5 days.