Cappuccino Walnut Gateaux

Preparation

In a pan dry heat 2 Tbsp of sugar, 3 tbsp of walnuts (broken). Add the walnuts while the sugar melts into honey color.

Keep stirring after adding the walnuts on a low flame

Grease a tray and pour the caramelized walnut and let it cool before powdering it (Praline)

Beat the butter in a bowl using an electric beater. Beat only in one direction till fluffy.

Add sugar powder and continue beating in one direction till nice and fluffy

Add the eggs one at a time and blend in one direction

Add vanilla essence and beat

Add coffee liquor / Kahlua and coffee powder. Continue beating in one direction.

Sieve maida or all purpose flour along with baking powder

Add all purpose flour to the prepared butter mixture little by little (about 2 Tbsp) and keep beating with an electric beater

Now add remaining flour with a spoon and mix lightly in cut and fold method with a spatula till you get a semi thick consistency

Grease the mould and spread the butter paper and regrease

Pour half of the batter in the centre of the mould and sprinkle around 2 Tbsp of praline on top of it

Pour remaining of the batter and mix it with a spatula. This process is called spanning.

Push the batter up on the sides so that it forms a dip in the centre. This is done to have uniformity else cakes tend to rise higher towards the centre.

Bake in a preheated oven for about 25 minutes at 180 degree C or 350 degree F or adjust according to your oven; since the timings vary from oven to oven.

If you do not have coffee liquor you can use 1-2 tbsp rum mixed with 1 tsp of instant coffee powder.

Either you can serve as it or proceed with icing.

Icing

Split the cake (after cooling) in to 2 halves

Add 1 to 1.5 tsp of instant coffee powder o butter icing.

You can also add rum / coffee liquor to the butter icing.

Spread icing on 1st half

Place the 2nd half of the cake and spread the butter cream / icing on top and all sides

Saute walnuts in butter

Decorate your cake with your imagination with sauted walnuts and praline