As I recently just took some time to learn about coffee preparation and its officially a year since FrugalFeeding opened its e-pages for “business”. So, I thought I’d mark the occasion with a suitably successful and enormously delicious coffee and walnut cake while we also use the best business advertising to promote products like this. To be honest, gushing about how much I’ve loved blogging is neither British, nor is it me. So, we shall forgo such sickening pleasantries. After all, I wouldn’t want to disappoint you “yanks” by omitting both my British personality and all the frightfully offensive colloquialisms that go hand-in-hand with it. In all seriousness, I am pleasantly surprised that FrugalFeeding has proved quite so popular – it is quite a shock to me that it has made it this far. Here’s to yet another frugal year!
My grandmother’s signature bake, to make use of a term used with startling frequency in The Great British Bake Off, simply must be the good old coffee cake. Though her cake batter doesn’t contain walnuts, it is from her that I have drawn the inspiration for this delight. When making this cake the aim was to keep the flavour of the walnuts and the coffee rather separate, continue reading and learn more about the coffee. As such, you’ll find that the cake itself takes on the flavour of the nuts, whilst the icing darkens the taste with a beautifully delicious coffee kick. Please use a good quality coffee when attempting this, instant coffee simply will not do. Whip out your cafetière or percolator and make a jolly large batch of coffee, using a dark bean – number four on the bean scale will do nicely. Other than that you may all go wild and enjoy this delicious dessert.
Coffee and Walnut Cake
Makes 1 cake with two layers
Ingredients:
For the Sponge:
• 3 eggs, weighed
• Butter, caster sugar and self-raising flour in equal measure – in order to get exact amounts weigh the eggs and use the same weight of these ingredients, this should be roughly 7 ounces or 200g.
• 100g finely chopped walnuts
• 70ml “real” coffee (see above)
For the Icing:
• 200g cream cheese
• 70g butter, at room temperature
• 50-70ml “real” coffee
• 150g icing sugar, sifted
• Whole walnut halves for decoration
Method:
1. Grease and line two 18cm sandwich tins, heat oven to 180C.
2. Cream together the sugar and the butter, with a hand whisk, until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in the eggs one by one. This requires thorough mixing between each egg. Whisk in the coffee prepared with cold brew coffee.
4. Sieve in the flour and fold in gently until just mixed. Fold in the walnuts and divide between the sandwich tins. Bake for around 25 minutes, or until they make no sound when listened to.
5. Allow to rest before turning onto a wire rack. Prepare the icing by beating the constituent ingredients together until uniform. You may need less coffee, see how it goes. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes before decorating.
Cost: Cakes like this cost pittance, especially when one has one’s own chickens. Surely one can’t put a price on a blog’s birthday cake. However, if backed into a corner I’d be forced to divulge. Under such circumstances my reply would be: ‘roughly £2.50, but for you… nothing.’
143 replies on “Coffee and Walnut Cake – The One-Year Milestone”
My mum’s signature cake is this exact cake! Walnuts and all! X
Oh awesome! Thanks for the comment Gemma! I assume you’re the one I know 😀
Happy Blog Birthday! Mine comes up in May. Time flies. I too have really enjoyed the blogging world. Who knew it could be so much fun? Enjoy that delicous coffee cake to celebrate.
Thanks! Ahha, I shall keep an eye out. It really is SO much fun. It has taken up hundred of hours of my time 😀
Congratulations on a year of blogging and enjoy your cake – it looks so delicious! All the best for year two!
Thanks, Cathy. The cake was awesome. I hope year two goes smoothly 😀
Oh. My. Gosh. I must make this!! 😀
Please do, it won’t let you down 😀
Keep it up FF! The blogging world would be a much less interesting place without you in it 🙂 I’m totally with you on the real coffee and I love walnuts! I think you get their maximum sweetness when you put them in cakes like this, your nanny must be pleased & very proud of you :))
I shall, Noodle. That’s such a nice thing to say! I’m sure she is, though she doesn’t go on my blog too much. I shall have to show it to her!
Happy Blogiversary Sir! I have much enjoyed your musings and recipes over the past year and long may it continue!
Thanks! I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying my writing. I hope you continue to return for years to come 😀
Happy anniversary and what a beautiful cake…love the icing too (or should I say “frosting” for the non Brits?!).
Thanks! I hate the term frosting, haha!
Happy Anniversary! The cake sounds amazing. I can’t wait to try it!
Thanks! Please do, I promise you’ll like it.
Happy Anniversary:) This cake looks really good:) Maybe this is what I should make to go with my tea:) 🙂
Thanks, I think it is. It was truly delicious.
I’m glad you stayed true to yourself in this post. Your blog is a delight and so is this cake. Congratulations!
Me too! If there’s one thing everyone must do, it’s to stay true to one’s self. I’m so glad you like my blog.
Very nice and Happy Birthday in suitably dismissive low key fashion to your pages. Lovely cake. And I do appreciate being able to taste each flavour separately.. very nice.. c
Ah, a perfectly wishes sentiment :D. Thanks, Cecilia.
Many happy returns!
OH, I do hope so 😀
Happy anniversary, Nick. Enjoy your cake.
Thanks, Kale. I shall, and have.
Happy birthday! Your birthday cake looks wonderful. I hope it tastes like a million bucks!
Best wishes for your second year!
Thanks! It tasted wonderful!
Well done for making it to your first anniversary. I would have gone for you grandmother’s version myself not much of a walnut man…
Thanks, I wasn’t sure if I’d have the staying power :D. Well, that’s up to you, just remove the walnuts from the mixture.
Congratulations!
Thanks, I hope you continue to visit!
Happy Birthday Frugal Feeding! and Congratulations Nick on stepping out and following your muse! Keep enjoying yourself (in your dignified British manner of course!) and we’ll keep enjoying (sometimes effusively) what you bring to the table! Now, That’s one beautiful looking cake!
Thanks, Spree! I shall continue to do just that! But, only sometimes effusively? I must step my game up a level!
Happy Anniversary!! You are a popular site… because of your wonderful recipes. This looks fantastic, I love walnuts and the idea of walnuts with a coffee icing, heavenly!! xo Smidge
Thanks! It’s so nice of you to say so. They two flavour compliment each other so perfectly.
Congrats on a year. I like the idea of great food on a budget and always enjoy how innovative you are. Cough, beetroot cupcakes, cough. This cake looks like a great way to celebrate.
Thanks, Greg! I hope you continue to frequent my web space.
Happy One Year!!! Looking forward to the year ahead with more of your fabulous recipes!
Thanks! I can’t believe I’ve made it this far :D.
Happy Birthday. Coffee cake is my favourite. Tough, I have never baked one.
Best,
Conor
Thanks, Conor! It’s one of my favourite too – you should check out my apple and walnut cake too.
Happy anniversary Frugal!
Thanks, Sens!
Congratulations on a year of blogging. Have to agree about using PROPER coffee, nothing else will do in my book 🙂
Thanks! Proper coffee really is the way forward.
This looks delicious – thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much! Thanks for commenting.
Oops, I totally make a coffee cake using espresso powder, and (horrors!) the microwave! Nevertheless I will endeavor to pull out all the stops when I make this one, in honor of your blog’s one year anniversary. 🙂
Here’s to another excellent year!
Uhho – slap on the hand for you.Oh well, yes you should, naughty. I hope so too.
Happy 1st birthday! It’s been a year of wonderful recipes – do keep up the good work 🙂 And that cake looks wonderful – it’s hard to beat a classic tea-time treat like this.
Thanks, Loaf! I shall try my utmost. You shall receive the gift of yet another wonderful cake sometime in the next couple of days 😀
Congrats on 1 year!!
YUM! I may try this with cupcakes (so the middle layer of frosting wont’ be there.. 🙁 ) or maybe even mini cupcakes…!
Thanks! I hope there’s another. That’s a good idea – put more icing on the top.
Congrats on your anniversary! Time does fly, doesn’t it? I love walnuts, and coffee, and cake — will have to try this real soon!
Thanks! It REALLY does. Please do try it, you won’t regret it.
Happy Blogiversary!
Thanks, I’m so glad people like me enough to comment about it 😀
What a delicious way to celebrate a year!! I actually want to throw myself face first into that bowl of icing! 🙂 Happy (blog) birthday!
Oh yes, I agree! You should do, but be careful not to drown or something… not the worst way to pop one’s clogs.
Happy blog birthday, and a heap of gratitude for your many labored hours bringing so many beautiful posts to your readers.
Thanks! No problem, they were many hours of fun!
[…] male, and if you don’t know what I mean by that, then just read the first paragraph of his recent 1st birthday/anniversary post… unfussy and polite but blunt, with absolutely no fannying about as usual – 1st birthday and […]
That look delicious!! Again congrats on following through a year of blogging, and may the next year be even better!
You are so right about pouring lots of hours into it, I find it overwhelming sometimes, but it’s fun so I guess the time doesn’t matter so much 🙂
Thanks! I do hope it is. No, the time doesn’t matter at all. There is very little I’d rather be doing.
Congratulations on your one-year anniversary. I look forward to continuing to follow your blog during the next, and for many years to come. Cheers!
Thanks, Dan! I do hope you continue to return for many posts to come!
Happy blogaversary!! Beautiful cake too.. 🙂
Thanks Celia, I’m glad you like.
Congrat on a year of blogging…lov your work, thanks for sharing all the economical yummies with us. Mums cakes always the best!
Thanks! Though it really isn’t work 😀
What a fabulous cake! Happy one year blogiversary! I anticipate another successful year ahead! 🙂
Thanks! I do hope so.
Happy Anniversary! I’ve never had coffee cake with actual coffee in it–though I know that’s the traditional way. Also interesting as it’s more of a breakfast thing for all the people I know–Being not much of a sweets-for-breakfast person, this sounds lovely as a birthday dessert!
Thanks! It’s so much better to use proper coffee. For breakfast? Really? That’s odd, though I would eat it for breakfast if it were forced upon me 🙂
Congratulations on your first year! I’m very happy to have found your blog; the recipes and writing are just wonderful.
Here’s to another great year.
Thanks! I’m glad you’ve found it as well! I’m so happy that you enjoy it!
I love a good coffee cake. It was one of my favs as a kid. Toppings and icings make these cakes amazing. I love the sweet and salty combination. congrats on your anniversary
I think it must be in my top three types of cake! Thanks! I do hope I’m around for many months or years to come.
Happy Anniversary! Love that coffee cake and looking forward to many more years of frugally delicious meals. BAM
Thanks! I hope I continue for that long – keep reading, that’s the best thing.
Congrats on one year with your blog! You are doing great and love the cake recipe 🙂
Thanks! I’ve really enjoyed my first year blogging.
Congrats on your 1-year anniversary! Enjoy the cake, it looks delicious 🙂
Thanks! I did, it was wonderful even though dad ate 80% of it! Grr
Congratulations on your first year! That cake sounds so delicious!
Thanks! It was really nice, one of my favourite cakes.
Congrats!! That cake looks so unassuming and inviting.
Thanks! As far as I know it has never assumed anything…
This cake looks great and congrats on your year of blogging!
Thanks! I hope to reach the next.
That cake is gorgeous! 😀
Thanks, Kat! It didn’t last for long 🙂
HI, I am here visiting from the big fat noodle! Well done on your one year milestone.
Awesome. She has a wonderful blog, hasn’t she? Thanks for visiting!
Happy 1st Blogoversary!
🙂 Mandy
Thanks, Mandy. I shall try and reach my next!
When I get back from uni it’ll be my dad’s birthday – perfect opportunity to try this out!
Oh, lucky dad – that’s cool.
Happy birthday FF!!
Thanks, Blue. Thanks for following me all this time 😀
Congratulations on reaching a milestone! The cake looks divine.
Thanks. I shall attempt to pass a few more as well!
congrats on one year! looking forward to more amazing recipes. i will have to try this cake out next time i have an occasion!
Thanks. I shall try my hardest to live up to your high expectations!
What a perfectly divine sounding cake…and congrats on your 1 year anniversary. I’ve really enjoyed reading for the last 6 months since I first “discovered” you. Cheers!
Thanks! It was wonderful. I’m glad you’ve been enjoying my blog so much.
This looks so very good. I will give this a try, starting to get over the whole Christmas baking overlaod and it must be time to bake a cake 🙂
Thanks, Rhubarb. Oh yes, it’s definitely time :).
Congratulations on the anniversary! What a lovely cake to celebrate! All nuts are pretty expensive in Canada!
Thanks! Oh no! It’s really hard for me to make frugal recipe for everyone, unfortunately.
Happy first birthday for your great blog! I’ve just passed the 6-month line …
Thanks! I shall keep my eye out for you inevitable one year anniversary!
YUM! Looks like the perfect way to celebrate. Looks like you’ve got a great blog here; I’m looking forward to checking it out more!
Oh it was – one of my favourite ever cakes. I’m glad you like my blog!
Congratulations on your anniversary… That cake looks divine. I’ll take a slice! 🙂
Thanks! but I must insist that you keep your hands to yourself – it’s mine 🙂
Wow.. I thin this cake just made me hungry all over again tonight lol. This looks amazing.. never thought I’d want to eat a walnut cake but I would totally make this in a heartbeat
haha, it does that to me too! You must give it a try 🙂
I love the cake!
And happy first anniversary of blogging. Here’s to many more!
Thanks! I do hope so. The cake was so yum.
happy 1 year anniversary!
thanks, I do hope I make it to the second!
congrats on the anniversary! which reminds me, mine should be coming up shortly too. luv reading your blog
Thanks! I look forward to your anniversary cake :). I’m glad you enjoy my ramblings.
Belated congratulations! Many, many more e-years to you!
Thanks so much! I hope I’m around for a long time to come 🙂
Congrats on your first year! The cake looks lovely 🙂
Thanks! I think so too 🙂
Oh my goodness a wonderful cake – love the photogrpahs of it they really do set it off nicely (as we Brits say!) Congrats on making the year – here is to many more! I have another 5 months to go I think but did not really do much until a few months ago – God I guess I have to think of a bake for it now!
Thanks! Indeed we do, though not too often. Yes, I expect a cake!
Congratulations! (Belatedly.) That is such a huge accomplishment. I’m 5 months in and it’s so much work (I mean, it’s awesome, don’t get me wrong), and I imagine it takes such intense dedication to reach a year of posting. It’s wonderful! Congratulations!
Thanks! Really, I don’t see it as work – I enjoy it far too much. It has meant rather a lot of dedication though.
Priceless is about right! Happy anniversary! Now how are you going to top this coffee cake on next year’s anniversary? 🙂
~Ruth
Awww, thanks. I shall have to get my thinking cap on.
looks amazing! we might have to recreate this sometime soon. happy one year 🙂
regards,
Alex and Priya
http://boymeetsgirlmeetsfood.wordpress.com/
Thanks, you should. It was lovely.
This cake looks gorgeous. I’m going to try it. Congratulations on your blog’s success!
Thanks! Let me know how it goes 😀
I need to make this!
You do, it was tasty!
Nothing wrong with that cafetiere! I quite like it. At least it’s used I can confess I have never used my choclatiere – I guess I ought to really just not sure how to do it?
No, I do actually rather like it. Oh yes, use it… I’m not entirely sure either… Wikipedia?