Maple walnut cake (gateau a l'erable et noix)

1 cake

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
½ cup Unsalted butter, room temp.
½ cup Light brown sugar, packed
2 eaches Eggs, beaten to blend, room temperature
2½ cup Cake flour
2 teaspoons Baking powder
½ teaspoon Baking soda
1 cup Maple syrup
½ cup Hot water
MAPLE WALNUT PRALINE
1 cup Maple syrup
1 cup Chopped walnuts
MAPLE WHIPPED CREAM
2 cups Whipping cream
6 tablespoons Powdered sugar
1 teaspoon Maple extract OR up to double this amount

Directions

FOR CAKE: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 8 to 9 inch round cake pans. Using electric mixer, cream butter and brown sugar.

Beat in eggs in thin stream. Combine flour, baking powder and baking soda in another bowl. Alternate adding dry ingredients, syrup and hot water to butter mixture, blending until smooth. Bake until tester inserted in center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool completely. Wrap; chill thoroughly. FOR PRALINE: Lightly grease baking sheet. Boil syrup in heavy small saucepan until candy thermometer registers 300 degrees F (hard-crack stage). Remove from heat. Stir in walnuts. Pour onto prepared sheet. Cool until set.

Transfer to processor and mix to fine powder. FOR WHIPPED CREAM: Beat cream with sugar and extract to stiff peaks. TO ASSEMBLE: Cut off top crust from cake layers. Set 1 layer on platter. Spread lightly with whipped cream. Sprinkle lightly with praline. Top with second cake layer. Spread top and sides lightly with whipped cream. Spoon remaining whipped cream into pastry bag fitted with star tip. Pipe lattice design atop cake; pipe border around bottom edge of cake.

Press praline onto sides; sprinkle any remainder on top. Serve Maple Walnut Cake chilled or at room temperature. Servings: 12 Source: Bon Appetit, February 1986 Typed for you by Karen Mintzias 9/93 Submitted By JIM BODLE On 11-24-94

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