Polish chocolate & walnut cake

Ingredients

• CHOCOLATE_SPONGE
• 4 eggs, separated
• 120 g sugar
• 100 g plain flour
• 30 g cocoa powder
• pinch of salt
• WALNUT_MERINGUE
• 5 egg whites
• 180 g sugar
• 250 g walnuts, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon potato starch
• CHOCOLATE_GLAZE
• 100 ml double cream
• 100 g dark chocolate, finely chopped
• ASSEMBLY
• handful of reserved walnuts (from total amount)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 170°C (150°C fan). Line a rectangular baking tin (about 30 × 22 cm) with baking parchment.
2. For the chocolate sponge, whisk the egg whites with a pinch of salt until soft peaks form. Gradually add half of the sugar and continue whisking until stiff.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the remaining sugar until pale. Gently fold the yolks into the egg whites.
4. Mix the flour and cocoa powder together, then carefully fold into the egg mixture using a spatula.
5. Pour the batter into the prepared tin and bake for 30–35 minutes, until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool, then remove from the tin.
6. Keep the oven at the same temperature and re-line the tin with fresh parchment.
7. For the walnut meringue, whisk the egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add the sugar and whisk until thick and glossy.
8. Gently fold in the chopped walnuts and potato starch. Spread the mixture evenly in the tin and bake for about 40 minutes, until set and lightly dried. Leave to cool.
9. To make the chocolate glaze, heat the cream until hot but not boiling. Remove from the heat, add the chopped chocolate and stir until smooth and glossy.
10. Slice the cooled chocolate sponge horizontally into two layers.
11. Place the walnut meringue on top of the bottom sponge layer and sprinkle with some of the reserved walnuts.
12. Top with the second sponge layer. Pour the chocolate glaze over the cake and smooth the surface. Decorate with the remaining walnuts.
13. Refrigerate the cake for at least 1–2 hours before serving to allow it to set.

instructions_source: editorial-classic