Mary Berry Coffee And Walnut Battenberg Cake

Mary Berry's Coffee and Walnut Battenberg Cake

Ingredients

This classic coffee and walnut Battenberg cake is one of the most popular recipes from the queen of baking, Mary Berry. To make it you will need:

225g/8oz butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
225g/8oz caster sugar
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons of instant coffee, dissolved in 1 tablespoon of hot water
225g/8oz self-raising flour
2 tablespoons of ground walnuts
2 drops of pink food colouring
3 tablespoons of apricot jam
50g/2oz coarsely chopped walnuts, to decorate

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4 and grease and line two 18cm/7in square cake tins.

Using an electric hand whisk, beat the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy. Beat the eggs in one at a time and then add the coffee and mix until combined. Fold in the flour, ground walnuts and pink food colouring.

Divide the mixture in half and spread it into the two prepared tins. Bake in the preheated oven for 25–30 minutes, or until golden-brown and a skewer inserted into the centre of the cakes comes out clean.

Leave the cakes to cool in the tins for 10 minutes, before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Once cool, trim the edges and cut each cake in half lengthways. Place the halves side-by-side on a board and spread the apricot jam over the cut sides. Then, to assemble the Battenberg, turn over one of the pink halves and place it on top of the other cake half. Press down gently to secure them together and then wrap the cake in clingfilm and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the icing by stirring the icing sugar and 3–4 teaspoons of water together until smooth. Remove the Battenberg from the fridge and unwrap. Spread the icing over the cake and then sprinkle over the chopped walnuts. Leave to set before slicing.

Nutrition

This delicious cake contains a whopping 724 calories per slice and is a source of protein, carbohydrates and fat. It also contains a small amount of calcium, iron and vitamins A, B1 and B2. However, it is high in sugar, saturated fat and salt, so should only be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

Conclusion

This classic Mary Berry coffee and walnut Battenberg cake is an indulgent treat that is perfect for special occasions. With its classic pink and white checkerboard design, it looks impressive and is sure to be a showstopper at any gathering. And with its delicious coffee and walnut flavour, it's sure to be a hit with all the family.