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Thea Pope's Greek Walnut Cake "Karithopita"

The best Greek walnut cake I know of ~ is my aunt Pope's cake. This is great for a crowd, and was always served at her home for us.
Course Dessert
Cuisine Greek
Keyword cake, Greek, karithopita, walnut
Author Mary Papoulias-Platis

Ingredients

Cake

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups finely chopped walnuts
  • 3 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
  • Grated zest from one orange
  • 2 Tbls. ground cinnamon
  • 2 Tbls. brandy
  • 4 eggs- separated
  • 1 1/2 cups milk
  • 1 1/2 cups oil - vegetable or olive oil

Syrup

  • Syrup
  • 2 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Instructions

Cake

  1. Mix the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon together in a large bowl.
  2. With a mixer, beat the egg whites until fluffy. Place in a bowl.
  3. With the mixer beat the egg yolks and white sugar until light in color and creamy.
  4. Add the milk and oil. Mix thoroughly.
  5. Place the baking powder in a bowl , and mix in the 1/2 cup orange juice. Add to mixture and beat for 2 minutes on low.
  6. Add the brandy and zest.
  7. Add the dry ingredients and beat on low until all the ingredients are incorporated. Do not over-mix.
  8. Remove the bowl from the mixer.
  9. Fold in the egg whites.
  10. Fold in the nuts.
  11. Grease an 8x11 size baking pan.
  12. Add the batter. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes. Test with a toothpick.

Syrup

  1. Place all the ingredients in a pan and bring to a boil about 15 minutes.
  2. Let cool, and add to hot cake.
  3. When the cake comes out of the oven add the syrup. Let the cake sit for at least an hour before serving.

Recipe Notes

Note: Bake cake in the lower third of your oven to avoid the center from falling.
In the meantime, make the syrup.