Pastel de Nuez

Ingredients

• •2 cups finely ground walnuts
• •1/2 cup matzo cake meal
• •4 large eggs, separated
• •3/4 cup sugar
• •1 teaspoon grated lemon or orange zest
• •1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• •1/2 cup orange juice or water
• •1/4 cup sugar for syrup
• •2 tablespoons sweet wine or lemon juice

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 350°F and line or grease a round cake pan.

2. 2

   Whisk the egg yolks with the sugar until thick and pale.

3. 3

   Stir in the ground walnuts, matzo cake meal, citrus zest, and salt.

4. 4

   In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites to soft peaks and fold them gently into the batter.

5. 5

   Transfer the batter to the pan and bake until the cake is set and springy, about 30 minutes.

6. 6

   Meanwhile, simmer the orange juice or water with the remaining sugar and the sweet wine or lemon juice to make a light syrup.

7. 7

   Cool the cake briefly, then spoon the syrup over the warm cake so it absorbs evenly.

8. 8

   Let the cake rest before slicing and serving.