Chocolate and Walnut Cake - Happy Birthday Recipes

Chocolate and walnut cake is a refined dessert, perfect for celebrating special moments in our lives. This chocolate delight, with crunchy walnuts and a decadent cream, deserves a place on the table of any sweet lover. In this detailed recipe, I will guide you step by step to achieve a perfect result. Let's get to work!

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Baking time: 25-30 minutes
Total time: 1 hour
Number of servings: 12

### Necessary ingredients

For the base:
- 5 egg whites
- 100 g sugar
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 100 g ground walnuts
- 2 tablespoons cocoa

For the cream:
- 5 egg yolks
- 150 g sugar
- 3 tablespoons cocoa
- 125 g margarine or butter
- 50 g dark chocolate

For the glaze:
- 100 g dark chocolate
- 25 g margarine or butter
- 50 ml liquid cream

### Step-by-step instructions

1. Preparing the base: Start by separating the egg whites from the yolks. Use a mixer to beat the egg whites with the sugar until you get a firm foam, similar to meringue. This step is essential as the foam will give the base an airy texture.

2. Adding the dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cocoa, and ground walnuts. Gradually add this mixture over the egg white foam, gently folding with a spatula to avoid losing air from the mixture.

3. Baking the bases: Divide the mixture into two equal parts and pour each part into a 20x30 cm baking tray lined with parchment paper. Bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 25-30 minutes. Check with a toothpick if they are baked – if it comes out clean, they are ready!

4. Preparing the cream: In another bowl, beat the egg yolks with the sugar until creamy and light in color. Add the cocoa and mix well. Then transfer the mixture to a bain-marie and cook, stirring constantly, until it thickens.

5. Adding the chocolate and margarine: When the egg yolk mixture has thickened, add the dark chocolate and margarine. Mix well until all ingredients are completely melted and homogenized. Let it cool.

6. Assembling the cake: Once the bases have cooled, place one of them on a platter and spread the cream evenly over it. Place the second layer on top and press gently. Chill for about 30 minutes.

7. Preparing the glaze: In a pot, combine the dark chocolate, margarine, and liquid cream. Heat over low heat and stir until completely melted. Let the glaze cool slightly, then pour it over the cake.

8. Finalizing: Cut the cake into portions and decorate each piece with whipped cream. You can also add chopped walnuts for a more rustic look.

### Practical tips

- Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature before starting for better homogenization.
- For an intense chocolate flavor, choose a high-quality dark chocolate.
- If you want to add a touch of freshness, you can add a few drops of vanilla essence to the egg yolk cream.

### Possible variations

- You can replace walnuts with hazelnuts or almonds for a different flavor.
- If you want a less sweet cake, reduce the amount of sugar in the cream.
- Instead of glaze, you can opt for a dusting of cocoa powder on top of the cake.

Enjoy this chocolate and walnut cake, a quick and simple dessert to prepare, perfect for celebrating special moments with loved ones!