Mary Berry's Coffee and Walnut Cake: A Classic Recipe Reimagined

Mary Berry's recipes are synonymous with delicious, reliable bakes, and her coffee and walnut cake is no exception. This decadent treat, with its rich coffee flavour and crunchy walnuts, is a perfect accompaniment to afternoon tea or a special occasion. This guide will walk you through a detailed recipe, offering tips and tricks to ensure your cake is as good as (if not better than!) Mary Berry's own.

Understanding the Ingredients: The Key to Success

Before we dive into the recipe, let's understand the importance of each ingredient in achieving that perfect coffee and walnut cake texture and flavour:

• Strong brewed coffee: This isn't just for flavour; the coffee adds moisture and depth to the cake. Using strong, freshly brewed coffee is crucial. Avoid instant coffee for the best results.
• Walnuts: Choose good quality walnuts, preferably freshly shelled. Toasting them beforehand enhances their flavour and creates a lovely crunchy texture.
• Butter: Use good quality, softened butter. This ensures that it creams well with the sugar, creating a light and airy texture.
• Sugar: Granulated sugar is standard, but you can experiment with caster sugar for a slightly finer crumb.
• Eggs: Free-range eggs are recommended for the richest flavour and colour. Make sure they're at room temperature for optimal mixing.
• Flour: Plain flour is the base. Using self-raising flour will alter the texture, so stick to plain flour.
• Baking powder: This is the leavening agent, giving the cake its rise. Ensure it's fresh for the best results.
• Coffee buttercream frosting: This rich and creamy frosting takes the cake to the next level.

Mary Berry's Coffee and Walnut Cake Recipe: A Step-by-Step Guide

This recipe is adapted to reflect the essence of Mary Berry's style, emphasizing quality ingredients and simple techniques.

Ingredients:

• For the Cake:
  • 175g (6oz) softened unsalted butter
  • 175g (6oz) caster sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 175g (6oz) self-raising flour (or plain flour with 2 tsp baking powder)
  • 1 tsp baking powder (if using plain flour)
  • 2 tbsp strong brewed coffee, cooled
  • 100g (3½oz) walnuts, roughly chopped
• For the Coffee Buttercream Frosting:
  • 200g (7oz) softened unsalted butter
  • 400g (14oz) icing sugar
  • 2 tbsp strong brewed coffee, cooled
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan/Gas Mark 4). Grease and line two 20cm (8 inch) sandwich tins.
2. Cream Butter and Sugar: Cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This is crucial for a light cake.
3. Add Eggs: Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together the flour and baking powder (if using plain flour).
5. Fold in Dry Ingredients: Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
6. Add Coffee and Walnuts: Stir in the cooled coffee and chopped walnuts.
7. Bake: Divide the batter evenly between the prepared tins and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
8. Cool: Let the cakes cool in the tins for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
9. Make the Frosting: While the cakes cool, make the buttercream frosting. Beat the softened butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add the icing sugar, beating until smooth. Stir in the cooled coffee and vanilla extract.
10. Frost the Cake: Once the cakes are completely cool, frost the top of one layer with a generous amount of buttercream. Top with the second cake layer and frost the entire cake. You can decorate with extra chopped walnuts.

Tips for the Perfect Coffee and Walnut Cake

• Don't overmix the batter: Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, resulting in a tough cake.
• Use fresh baking powder: Old baking powder will not rise properly.
• Let the cakes cool completely: Frosting a warm cake will cause the frosting to melt.
• Experiment with different frostings: While the coffee buttercream is classic, you could try other frostings like chocolate ganache or cream cheese frosting.

Beyond the Recipe: SEO Optimization and Content Strategy

This article incorporates several SEO best practices:

• Keyword optimization: The title, headings, and body text naturally incorporate relevant keywords like "Mary Berry coffee and walnut cake," "coffee and walnut cake recipe," and "Mary Berry recipe."
• Structured data: The use of headings (H2, H3) and bullet points improves readability and helps search engines understand the content.
• High-quality content: The detailed recipe and tips provide value to the reader, increasing engagement and dwell time.
• Long-form content: The length of the article increases its chances of ranking higher in search results.

By following these strategies, you can create blog posts that not only provide valuable information but also perform well in search engine results. Remember to promote your post on social media and other platforms to maximize its reach.