Maple Walnut Cake
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Maple Walnut Cake is a delicious, moist cake that features flavorful hints of maple syrup, crunchy walnuts and a sweet buttercream frosting. This mouthwatering cake is perfect for family gatherings, special occasions or just to satisfy your sweet tooth. A simple dessert recipe that will have them coming back for more.
When Fall rolls around, there is nothing I love more than baking and the amazing flavors that autumn recipes spread around my whole house. This Maple Walnut Cake is one of those recipes.
Walnut Maple Cake is a burst of flavor with every bite. The maple adds so much sweetness and the walnuts add crunch with every bite. The frosting is creamy, buttery and oh so sweet, exactly the topping this cake needs.
Maple Walnut Cake Ingredients
This Maple Walnut Cake recipe is made with simple ingredients that are most likely already in your home. To make this cake with maple and walnuts you will need the following:
Maple Cake Ingredients:
Maple Frosting Ingredients:
⭐️ Full ingredient measurements and recipe instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to Make Maple Walnut Cake
Now that we’ve got our ingredients all together let’s walk through a couple simple steps with tips and tricks to make this delicious Maple Walnut Cake Recipe.
Step 1: start with a large mixing bowl and add in the softened butter, brown sugar, pure maple syrup, large egg and vanilla. Use an electric mixer to blend these ingredients until they are like a grainy paste.
Tip: if your butter is still too cold, or even frozen, grate the butter with a cheese grater into the mixing bowl, this will allow the butter to get soft really quickly.
Step 2: whisk together the flour, salt and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients mixture to the wet ingredients and mix with the electric mixer until the batter is smooth and well combined. Fold in the chopped walnuts.
Tip: whisking the flour helps break up any clumps in the dry ingredients and helps make the cake light and airy.
Step 3: spread the cake batter evenly into an 8 x 8 inch pan that has been greased with cooking spray or butter.
Step 4: bake the cake at 325º F for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Tip: Cool the cake in the pan for 10-15 minutes and turn out onto a cooling rack to allow to cool completely before frosting.
Maple Frosting Directions
To make the frosting, cream together the softened butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer on high speed, scraping the sides as needed until well blended and smooth.
Add in the brown sugar and maple syrup and mix until smooth.
Lastly, add in the powdered sugar a few tablespoons at a time with the mixer on medium-slow speed until all of the sugar is incorporated. Once all of the sugar is mixed in, increase the mixer speed to high and continue to mix for an additional 2 minutes, until the frosting is smooth.
Tip: if the frosting appears too thin, add additional powdered sugar a little at a time until the frosting thickens.
Spread the frosting over the cooled cake and sprinkle with chopped walnuts if desired.
How to Store Maple Walnut Cake
This cake can be stored on the counter top in an air tight container to help keep it moist for up to 4 days.
This cake also freezes well. Wrap the unfrosted cake in plastic wrap and then foil to help freeze well. Thaw the cake in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
Looking for Other Simple Dessert Ideas?
These are some of our favorite easy desserts:
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Maple Walnut Cake
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1 cup pure maple syrup
- 1 egg room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup walnuts chopped
Maple Frosting
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 2 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325º F, grease an 8 x 8 inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter
- In a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed, combine the butter, brown sugar together, add in the maple syrup, vanilla and egg until smooth.
- In a separate medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix with the electric mixer until just combined, don't overmix.
- Fold in the chopped walnuts.
- Spread the cake batter evenly into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 40-45 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before inverting onto a cooling rack.
Maple Frosting
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and cream cheese until smooth on high speed.
- Add in the brown sugar and maple syrup until well combined and smooth.
- Slowly add in the powdered sugar a few tablespoons at a time until incorporated, mixing in between.
- Continue mixing on high speed for about 2 minutes until the frosting is smooth.
- Spread the frosting on the cooled cake and top with chopped walnuts if desired
Notes
- Nutrition facts are just an estimate
