Prep. Time: 15′ Baking Time: 1h Serves 16
Ingredients
- 500 g all-purpose flour
- 3 tsp baking powder
- 250 g butter
- 400 g sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 2 vanilla beans
- Zest from 1 orange
- 5 eggs, separated
- A pinch of salt
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 120 g orange juice
- 120 g milk
- 80 g cognac
- 200 g walnuts, coarsely chopped
- Icing sugar for decoration
Instructions:
All ingredients should be at room temperature.
- Sift the flour and baking powder and set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 170ºC on the lower heat setting.
- Grease a baking pan (28 or 30 cm, 6-7 cm high)
- Line the pan with parchment paper for easy removal after baking.
- In a mixer, beat soft butter with sugar until creamy.
- Add cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, and orange zest to the butter-sugar mixture.
- Add the egg yolks one at a time, allowing each to blend before adding the next.
- In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites with salt until stiff peaks form.
- Dissolve baking soda in orange juice and add it to the mixture.
- Gradually add the sifted flour, alternating with milk and cognac.
- Fold in the coarsely chopped walnuts.
- Gradually add the beaten egg whites, gently folding to maintain the volume.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and sprinkle with flour.
- Bake for 55 to 60 minutes. Check for doneness by inserting a knife into the center; it’s done if the blade comes out clean.
- Let it rest in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer it to a large plate.
- Remove the parchment paper and let it cool completely.
- Dust with powdered sugar. If you want to write wishes on the cake, make a simple glaze.
- Enjoy!
