To prepare this delicious cake, start by mixing 300 g of flour with the butter, making sure to achieve a crumbly consistency. This is the base of the dough, and it is essential to ensure that the butter is at room temperature for even incorporation. Once you have achieved the desired texture, add 150 g of sugar and a packet of vanilla sugar to give it a pleasant and aromatic taste. Don't forget to include grated lemon zest, which will add a fresh note, and lemon juice, which will intensify the flavors.
Next, quench 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda with a few drops of lemon juice and incorporate it into the mixture. Now it's time to knead the dough and add the 5 egg yolks, mixing them well until homogeneous. The dough will become quite sticky, but don't worry; this is normal. Start gradually adding the remaining flour, kneading constantly until you obtain a dough that no longer sticks to your hands and is easy to shape.
Once you have obtained the desired dough, spread it in the baking tray, ensuring it is evenly distributed. Use a fork to prick it here and there, which will allow steam to escape during baking. At this stage, you can add jam, which you have mixed with ground walnuts, but this is completely optional. If you don't have walnuts, you can skip this step.
Now prepare the beaten egg whites, gradually adding sugar depending on the number of egg whites you are using. Beat them until they reach the consistency of a meringue and become shiny. This foam will give the cake an airy and light texture, perfect for contrasting with the biscuit base. Sprinkle some ground walnuts on top of the meringue for added flavor and texture, then place the cake in the oven, set at a medium temperature, for 20-25 minutes.
To prevent the walnuts from burning, you can cover the cake with a sheet of parchment paper in the last minutes of baking. Finally, let it cool before cutting it to allow the flavors to meld. This old recipe comes with surprises, and the amount of flour may vary; so don't hesitate to adjust as needed. Enjoy!
Next, quench 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda with a few drops of lemon juice and incorporate it into the mixture. Now it's time to knead the dough and add the 5 egg yolks, mixing them well until homogeneous. The dough will become quite sticky, but don't worry; this is normal. Start gradually adding the remaining flour, kneading constantly until you obtain a dough that no longer sticks to your hands and is easy to shape.
Once you have obtained the desired dough, spread it in the baking tray, ensuring it is evenly distributed. Use a fork to prick it here and there, which will allow steam to escape during baking. At this stage, you can add jam, which you have mixed with ground walnuts, but this is completely optional. If you don't have walnuts, you can skip this step.
Now prepare the beaten egg whites, gradually adding sugar depending on the number of egg whites you are using. Beat them until they reach the consistency of a meringue and become shiny. This foam will give the cake an airy and light texture, perfect for contrasting with the biscuit base. Sprinkle some ground walnuts on top of the meringue for added flavor and texture, then place the cake in the oven, set at a medium temperature, for 20-25 minutes.
To prevent the walnuts from burning, you can cover the cake with a sheet of parchment paper in the last minutes of baking. Finally, let it cool before cutting it to allow the flavors to meld. This old recipe comes with surprises, and the amount of flour may vary; so don't hesitate to adjust as needed. Enjoy!
Ingredients
300-350 g flour (I used 350 g, depending on the flour used and its moisture content) 200 g butter 50 g sugar (you can use a bit less or brown sugar) 1 packet of vanilla sugar + essence for a more pronounced vanilla flavor (optional) 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda extinguished with lemon juice grated peel and juice of one lemon 5 eggs (separated) 1 tablespoon sour cream (optional... see note at the end) 150 g walnuts (keep 50 g for sprinkling on top) spicy jam (I used apricots) sugar for beating the egg whites