Meet Italian Walnut Cake: The 3-Ingredient Dessert That's Classic For A Reason

When preparing desserts, a simple approach comes with its own benefits. Deftly combine only a few ingredients, and flavors shine in pure form. It's a way of cooking that is especially evident in the best Italian dishes; the cuisine is celebrated for letting high-quality produce take the stage.

So if you have some walnuts on hand, craft a torta di noci. Despite needing only three ingredients, this Italian cake translates a delicious walnut flavor while surprisingly avoiding dryness. Plus, assembly of the dessert is straightforward.

You'll simply need to use one of the foolproof ways to separate eggs, then whisk the egg whites with sugar, essentially forming a meringue. Simultaneously, the egg yolks also get mixed with a dose of sugar, as well as the ground walnuts. Fold the two egg-based components gently (the meringue is what gives the cake lift, after all), and after around half an hour in the oven, the classic dessert is finished. With a nice crumble, nutty chunks, and sizable thickness, this walnut cake looks like it entails greater effort. 

Walnuts grow abundantly in Campania and Calabria, which are used in both sweet and savory creations — making it no surprise this Italian dessert emerged in the latter region. And if you're dealing with whole shell-on nuts (perhaps after outdoor collection), then learn the simple technique to crack open walnuts. Just don't forget to also take off the peel, as it imparts bitterness. However, feel free to adapt this recipe to your local nut – whether that's almonds, pecans, or hazelnuts.

Another essential step comes during pulverization: You'll want your nut of choice to attain an ideal texture. When you run them in a food processor, look for a consistency that just turns uniform, but still maintains a coarseness. After all, the crunchy bites of walnuts that appear amidst eating are a highlight of the experience.

Then, once you have the assembly down, feel free to embellish with additional flavors. Garnish with powdered sugar, dried fruit, or even a buttercream for a more elevated touch. Alternatively, add in citrus zest, chocolate chips, or even blend varying nuts together in the batter. The cake improves as it sits out for a day or two — so bake a larger batch, then cut up and enjoy throughout the week.