Schneider Cake

To prepare a delicious walnut and jam cake, we will start by preparing the necessary ingredients. In a large bowl, sift the flour, salt, and baking powder onto a marble countertop, ensuring they are well mixed. In the middle of the mixture, add the sugar and cold butter cubes, cut into small pieces. Using a pastry spatula, quickly mix the ingredients, being careful not to overwork them. The goal is to achieve a texture similar to that of fine sand. Once you have obtained this consistency, add the cold egg, continuing to mix with the spatula.

Once the dough has started to form, proceed to knead it gently with your fingers, without insisting too much. What we want is to keep that crumbly texture specific to a short dough, called shortbread. Gather all the dough, pressing it gently, then wrap it in cling film and place it in the refrigerator for about an hour. It is important to note that during this period, the pieces of butter will remain visible, which will contribute to the final texture of the cake.

Meanwhile, in another bowl, beat the yolks of the four eggs with the sugar until the mixture becomes a fluffy foam. Add the lemon zest for extra flavor and the ground walnuts, mixing well. In another bowl, beat the egg whites with the two teaspoons of sugar until you achieve a stiff foam. Once the egg whites are ready, add a third of them to the yolk cream to make it more permeable, then incorporate the rest of the foam, mixing with a flexible spatula, with gentle movements from bottom to top.

After an hour has passed, remove the dough from the refrigerator and roll it out on a floured surface, according to the dimensions of the tray you will use, which should be lined with baking paper. After rolling out the dough, spread a generous layer of sweet-sour jam on it, then add the walnut cream on top. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius and place the cake inside. Bake for 10 minutes at this temperature, then reduce the temperature to 150 degrees Celsius and continue baking for another 30 minutes, or until the cake turns golden and beautifully browned on top.

Once the cake is ready, remove it from the oven and let it cool completely. After it has cooled, you can cut it into desired shapes, whether you prefer small cubes or larger slices. This cake is perfect to be enjoyed alongside a cup of tea or coffee. Enjoy your meal!