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All I Want for Christmas Cake

VegetarianOvenChristmas

Time: 1 hour

Yield: 16 servings

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About

You probably don't want a lot for Christmas. But... there is just one thing you need. You can forget about all those presents underneath the tree with a festive slice of All I Want for Christmas Cake! The moist vanilla cake smothered in rich, creamy frosting and sprinkled with crunchy, homemade candied walnuts is more delicious than you could ever know. The hint of caramel-y maple syrup throughout will really make you want the whole cake for your own. What more can you do, you might wonder, to get to taste this amazing wintertime treat? Bake this All I Want for Christmas Cake to make your wish come true!

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Ingredients

  • For the cake:
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar, packed
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon maple flavoring or maple syrup
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • For the candied walnuts:
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 1/2 cups walnuts, coarsely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • For the frosting:
  • 2 cups unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon maple flavoring or maple syrup
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 5 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1/4-1/2 cup half-and-half cream
  • 3 tablespoons maple syrup, divided

Directions

Step 1 -Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Step 2 -Line the bottoms of three greased 9-inch round baking pans with parchment paper. Grease the parchment.

Step 3 -In a bowl, cream 1/2 cup of the butter and the brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 5-7 minutes.

Step 4 -Add the eggs to the butter mixture, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Step 5 -Beat 1 teaspoon of the maple flavoring into the butter mixture.

Step 6 -In another bowl, whisk the flour, the baking powder, the baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt together.

Step 7 -Add the butter mixture alternately with the buttermilk to the flour mixture, beating after each addition.

Step 8 -Transfer the batter evenly between the prepared pans.

Step 9 -Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 11-13 minutes.

Step 10 -Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes prior to moving them onto wire racks to cool completely. Discard the parchment paper.

Step 11 -While the cake is cooling, in a large skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter.

Step 12 -Add the walnuts to the melted butter and sauté the walnuts until toasted, about 5 minutes.

Step 13 -Stir 1 tablespoon of the maple syrup and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt into the walnut mixture and cook and stir for 1 minute.

Step 14 -Spread the candied walnuts onto foil to cool completely.

Step 15 -In a mixing bowl, mix the remaining butter until creamy.

Step 16 -Beat the remaining maple flavoring and the remaining salt into the butter mixture.

Step 17 -Gradually beat the confectioners' sugar and enough of the cream to reach the desired consistency into the frosting mixture.

Step 18 -Place 1 of the cooled cakes on a serving plate and spread with 1 cup of the frosting.

Step 19 -Sprinkle the frosting with 1/2 cup of the candied walnuts and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the remaining maple syrup.

Step 20 -Repeat the layers once.

Step 21 -Top with the remaining cake and frost the top and the sides of the cake.

Step 22 -Sprinkle with the remaining walnuts and drizzle with the remaining syrup.

Step 23 -Slice and serve.

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