This traditional Ukrainian Walnut Torte is flourless and has a dreamy creamy coffee whipped cream frosting and filling. This cake is ideal for anyone who loves walnuts!~
This walnut torte recipe is a traditional dessert for Ukrainians usually made for special occasions, as well as Christmas. It was inspired by my Ukrainian Lemon Poppy Seed Torte and pairs well with my Ukrainian Daughter's Slow Cooker Casserole.
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🥘Ingredients
The original recipe has a coffee buttercream frosting, but I use a whipped cream frosting. You can use any frosting you wish but see variations & substitutions for recommendations.
For this walnut torte, you'll need:
- 8 eggs separated
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar (icing sugar/confectioners sugar)
- 2 cups ground walnuts
- ¼ cup fine bread crumbs
Filling and Frosting
- Stabilized Whipped cream frosting recipe (heavy cream, vanilla extract, powdered sugar, and piping gel)
- 4 tsp brewed coffee
- ¼ cup ground walnuts
Garnish
- walnut pieces
🔪Instructions
Prep:
- Heat oven to 350 degrees F/176 degrees C.
- Grease two 8 or 9-inch round layer pan with Wilton cake release (affiliate link) or nonstick cooking spray
In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks at medium-high speed until light in color.
Gradually add sifted powdered sugar
Beat at medium speed until thick and fluffy.
Add the 2 cups of ground walnuts and the very fine bread crumbs to the yolk mixture.
Mix well.
In a separate medium bowl, beat egg whites until stiff.
Gently fold the egg yolk walnut mixture into the stiffly beaten egg whites.
Pour the cake batter into the prepared round cake pans.
Bake in preheated oven for about 35-40 minutes or until inserted cake tester or toothpick comes out clean.
Cool for 5 minutes.
Gently release from pans onto wire racks and leave until completely cooled.
*Don't worry if they don't look perfect, as they will be covered in frosting anyway!
In another large mixing bowl, make Stabilized Whipped cream Frosting: beat heavy cream and powdered sugar to soft peaks and add coffee at the same time you add the vanilla extract and piping gel.
OR you can opt to use another type of frosting (buttercream, shortening-based or store-bought)
Beat until stiff peaks form
Stir in ¼ cup ground walnuts
Mix well
Place cake on a cake plate and add frosting to the top of the first cake (this is your filling)
Place the top layer (second cake) on top of filling
Frost the top of the cake
Frost the sides of the cake
Continue to add frosting to the outside of the cake until the cake is evenly covered in icing
Garnish with chopped walnuts.
Hint: I "toss' the walnut pieces at the side of the cake to get them to stick.
📖Variations & Substitutions
- Frosting - you can use any type of frosting you prefer, but I recommend my stabilized whipped cream frosting or my Whipped Cream Buttercream Frosting (with shortening), mocha frosting, or my Chocolate Frosting (without butter). Or you can use a store-bought frosting- my favorite is Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines Whipped Frosting
- Lactose-free or Dairy Free - you can make my stabilized whipped cream frosting with Nutriwhip or another dairy-free topping. You can use either of my shortening-based frostings (chocolate frosting or whipped cream buttercream) above and simply replace the milk with non-dairy milk for the chocolate frosting.
- Coffee - I use brewed coffee, but you could use instant coffee or use espresso for a stronger coffee taste. You can also increase or decrease the amount of coffee to your preference.
I made this cake for a special occasion - my husband's birthday. He's not only Ukrainian like me, but he also loves both walnuts and coffee, so it was the PERFECT cake!
💭Top Tip
I recommend using Wilton Cake Release (affiliate link) to prevent your cakes from sticking to the pan!
👪 Serving Size
This Ukrainian festive walnut torte recipe makes 8 servings. However, you can half, double, or triple the recipe by clicking on the blue serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust. You will need more cake pans if you increase the servings.
🥗 Dishes to serve with this dessert
This cake is the perfect dessert to accompany a Ukrainian meal!
🍽Equipment
You will need a food processor to grind the walnuts, 2 8-inch layer cake pans, and a hand mixer or stand mixer. (affiliate links).
🌡️Storage
Store this Ukrainian Festive Walnut Torte in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
This cake can be made in advance and frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
If you are looking for additional Ukrainian desserts, try my Berry Dessert Perogies (shown below) and my Pampushky - Ukrainian doughnuts, with step-by-step directions for making them in the air fryer!
If you are looking for a Walnut torte recipe, you'll love this one!
⭐ COMMENTS & REVIEWS
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📋 Ukrainian Walnut Torte Recipe
Ingredients
Cake
- 8 large eggs separated
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar (icing sugar/confectioners sugar)
- 2 cups ground walnuts
- ¼ cup fine bread crumbs
Filling and Frosting
- 4 cups stabilized whipped cream frosting recipe
- 4 teaspoon coffee
- ¼ cup ground walnuts
Garnish
- ¼ cup walnut pieces approximately
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F /176 C.
- Grease two 8 or 9 inch round layer pan with cake release or non stick cooking spray
- Beat the egg yolks until light in color.
- Gradually add sifted powdered sugar
- Beat well until thick and fluffy.
- Add the 2 cups of ground walnuts and the very fine bread crumbs to the yolk mixture.
- Mix well.
- In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until stiff.
- Gently fold the egg yolk mixture into the stiffly beaten egg whites.
- Pour batter into the prepared pans
- Bake in preheated oven for about 35-40 minutes or until instered cake tester or toothpick comes out clean .
- Cool on wire rack for 15 minutes.
Filling and Frosting
- Make Stabilized Whipped cream Frosting and add coffee at the same time you add the vanilla extract and piping gel.OR you can opt to use another type of frosting (buttercream, shortening-based or store-bought - see variations and substitutions in post)
Assembly
- Beat until stiff peaks form.
- Stir in ¼ cup ground walnuts and mix well.
- Place cake on a cake plate and add frosting to the top of the first cake (this is your filling)
- Place second cake layer on top of filling.
- Frost the top of the cake.
- Frost the sides of the cake.
- Continue to frost until cake is evenly covered in icing.
Garnish
- Move to a cake platter and garnish with walnut pieces. I 'toss' the walnuts at the sides of the cake to get them to stick.
- To serve, cut with a serrated knife.
Terri Gilson
This Ukrainian Walnut Torte was a real hit for my husband's birthday! I love how it's flourless and packed with nutty flavor. The coffee whipped cream frosting makes it extra special. It was the perfect choice since he's not only Ukrainian like me, but he also adores both walnuts and coffee.