Autumn recipe: Apple and walnut cake

With autumn, apples return to the shelves of Italian grocers, a typical fruit of the season that will accompany us throughout the winter. It is therefore the ideal time to try a tasty and soft apple cake, which we propose in this recipe enhanced by the crunchiness of the walnuts.

The apple and walnut cake can be served as a dessert at the end of the meal or on the occasion of a snack with friends. What if there are some slices left over? No problem: they can be kept for a few days at room temperature, ready to become an exquisite breakfast item for the whole family!

The benefits of walnuts

While the properties of apples are well known, the same cannot be said of walnuts.

Widely used in the Mediterranean diet as a valuable source of "good" fats and naturally free from cholesterol, walnuts provide a number of important elements for the body:

• Phytosterols, compounds of plant origin known for their ability to reduce the level of bad cholesterol and the relative risk of atherosclerosis
• Minerals such as potassium, magnesium and calcium, a winning mix associated with a lower risk of stroke
• Vitamin E, famous for its antioxidant abilities and able to protect cell membranes from oxidative damage 
• Melatonin, the so-called "sleep regulating hormone"
• Polyphenols, which have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties
• Calories, a vehicle of energy.

Nuts also have a remarkable satiating power, and are therefore ideal as a healthy snack.

Apple and walnut cake recipe: ingredients

Now let's see what ingredients are needed to make an excellent homemade apple and walnut cake in a few simple steps:

• 3 soft golden apples
• 2 eggs
• 250 g of flour
• 120 g of sugar
• 70 g of butter
• 150 ml of milk (or a plant-based drink as desired)
• walnuts (to taste)
• icing sugar (to taste)
• 1 lemon
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder for desserts

A 22 cm diameter cake tin will also be needed.

Preparation

Wash the apples, peel them and cut them into thin slices. Sprinkle some lemon juice on the slices, to prevent them from discolouring.

Whisk (by hand or with a stand mixer) the eggs together with the sugar, until the mixture is clear and very soft. Melt and cool the butter, and add it to the mixture together with the flour and milk, stirring slowly so as not to create lumps. Combine the yeast and walnuts.

Line the cake tin with parchment paper and pour in the mixture, taking care to level it well. Arrange the apple slices in a circular and orderly way.

Bake in a static oven at 180°C for about 35/40 minutes. To make sure the cake is done, test it with a toothpick. Allow the cake to cool, decorate with icing sugar and serve.

The homemade apple and walnut cake is ready!