Easy Walnut Cake with Plums and Chocolate Chips Recipe
This Easy Walnut Cake with Plums and Chocolate Chips is a moist, spiced dessert combining the nutty flavor of walnuts with the sweet tartness of fresh plums and bursts of chocolate. Perfect for autumn or any time you crave a homemade cake with a sophisticated blend of flavors, this recipe uses simple ingredients and straightforward steps for a delightful treat.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: European
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit
- 500 g (about 1 lb) plums
Egg Mixture
- 5 eggs (size M), separated
- 125 g (½ cup + 2 tbsp) sugar for yolks
- 25 g (2 tbsp) sugar for egg whites
- ½ tbsp vanilla essence (or 2 tsp vanilla extract)
- 1 tsp instant espresso powder dissolved in 2 tbsp rum or amaretto
Dry Ingredients
- 100 g (¾ cup) flour
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 100 g (1 cup) ground walnuts
- 50 g (½ cup) chopped walnuts and chocolate chips combined
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ¼ tsp ground cardamom
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line an 8-inch (20–22 cm) springform pan with parchment paper for easy cake removal.
- Prepare plums: Dice two plums to be folded into the batter. Slice the remaining plums into wedges for decorating the top of the cake.
- Beat egg whites: Using a clean bowl, beat the egg whites with 25 g (2 tbsp) sugar until stiff peaks form. This will add lightness to the cake. Set aside.
- Mix yolk mixture: In a separate bowl, beat the egg yolks with 125 g (½ cup + 2 tbsp) sugar and vanilla essence until pale and creamy. Stir in the espresso powder dissolved in rum or amaretto for a subtle coffee-alcohol flavor boost.
- Combine dry ingredients: In another bowl, mix together the flour, cornstarch, cinnamon, ground cloves, cardamom, ground walnuts, and the chopped walnuts and chocolate chips.
- Fold dry ingredients and egg whites: Gently fold the dry mixture alternately with the beaten egg whites into the egg yolk mixture to maintain airiness and even blending.
- Add diced plums: Carefully fold in the diced plums so they’re evenly distributed without breaking them up too much.
- Assemble in pan: Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the surface evenly, and arrange the plum wedges attractively on top.
- Bake the cake: Bake for about 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool before removing from the pan.
Notes
- Use ripe but firm plums to keep their shape during baking.
- The espresso rum mixture adds depth; if you prefer non-alcoholic, just dissolve the espresso powder in water.
- Folding the egg whites gently is key to keeping the cake light and fluffy.
- You can substitute the chocolate chips with dried cranberries or raisins for a different twist.
- Store leftovers covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
Keywords: walnut cake, plum cake, chocolate chip cake, spiced cake, autumn dessert
