4.9 from 270 votes
Maple Walnut Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
It's the quintessential fall dessert for maple walnut lovers!
Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
45 mins
Servings: 16 servings
Calories: 704 kcal
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
cake
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 4 large eggs at room temperature
- 3/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp maple extract or vanilla extract
- 1 Tbsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3 cups cake flour (you can use regular flour)
- 3/4 cup half and half substitute whole milk or buttermilk
- 1 cup crushed or finely chopped walnuts
frosting
- 16 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 tsp maple extract or vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt omit if using salted butter
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 4-5 cups confectioner's sugar sifted
garnish
- 18 walnut halves
- 1 cup finely crushed walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F Lightly grease 3 8-inch cake pans and add a round of parchment at the bottom of each. Note: if you only have 2 pans, bake the third layer after the first 2 have cooked.
- Cream the brown sugar and butter together until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Don't skip this step, it helps make a light cake.
- Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Then beat in the maple syrup and extract.
- Turn the mixer to low speed and blend in the baking powder and salt. Then add the flour and half and half, alternately, beginning and ending with the flour. Mix just to combine, don't over-mix. Fold in the crushed walnuts.
- Fill your cake pans evenly with batter and smooth out the tops, if necessary. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until the center is risen and springs back when lightly touched, and the cakes have just started to pull away ever so slightly from the sides of the pan. Let the cakes cool for 10-15 minutes before turning out and cooling completely on a rack.
- To make the frosting, cream the cream cheese and butter until smooth, making sure there are no lumps. Beat in the maple syrup, extract, and salt.
- Add sugar, in batches, until you get your desired consistency.
- Generously frost the cooled cake and pat crushed walnuts along the outer edge. Arrange walnut halves on the top.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- If you only have 9-inch cake pans, I think it would be best to make this a 2 layer cake. The baking time will be slightly longer, so keep that in mind.
Nutrition Information
Calories
704kcal
(35%)
Carbohydrates
80g
(27%)
Protein
9g
(18%)
Fat
41g
(63%)
Saturated Fat
19g
(95%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
9g
Monounsaturated Fat
9g
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
122mg
(41%)
Sodium
231mg
(10%)
Potassium
316mg
(9%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
57g
(114%)
Vitamin A
1016IU
(20%)
Vitamin C
1mg
(1%)
Calcium
139mg
(14%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 16servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 704
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 704kcal | 35% |
| Carbohydrates | 80g | 27% |
| Protein | 9g | 18% |
| Fat | 41g | 63% |
| Saturated Fat | 19g | 95% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 9g | 53% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 9g | 45% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 122mg | 41% |
| Sodium | 231mg | 10% |
| Potassium | 316mg | 7% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 57g | 114% |
| Vitamin A | 1016IU | 20% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 139mg | 14% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.