Name: Karidopita (Walnut Cake)
Total time: 85 min
Ingredients: 1 teaspoon butter, melted; 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 6 large eggs; 0.5 cup granulated sugar; 1 cup fine dry breadcrumbs; 1 cup chopped walnuts; 2 teaspoons baking powder; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 0.25 teaspoon ground cloves; 2 cups water; 1 cup granulated sugar; 0.5 lemon; Whipped cream, vanilla ice cream and/or chocolate sauce for serving

Karidopita (Walnut Cake)

This syrup-soaked walnut cake—a traditional Greek dessert that's often served for holidays—gets its structure from breadcrumbs instead of flour. It's delicious unadorned, but feel free to top it with unsweetened whipped cream, vanilla ice cream or warm chocolate sauce for an extra layer of decadence.

By Kornilia Kallidis

Published on April 26, 2022

Reviewed by Dietitian

Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD

Karidopita (Walnut Cake) — Photo: Leigh Beisch

Active Time:

15 mins

Total Time:

1 hrs 25 mins

Servings:

Nutrition Profile:

Diabetes Appropriate Heart Healthy Soy-Free Vegetarian

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Ingredients

Cake

1 teaspoon butter, melted
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
6 large eggs
½ cup granulated sugar
1 cup fine dry breadcrumbs
1 cup chopped walnuts
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground cloves

Syrup

2 cups water
1 cup granulated sugar
½ lemon
Whipped cream, vanilla ice cream and/or chocolate sauce for serving

Directions

To prepare cake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Brush a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with butter. Sprinkle with flour, shaking out excess.
Whisk eggs and 1/2 cup sugar in a large bowl with a fork. Add breadcrumbs, walnuts, baking powder, cinnamon and cloves; mix well. Scrape into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake until dark brown and firm, about 40 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare syrup: Combine water and sugar in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Squeeze lemon into the syrup and add the lemon half to the pan. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until slightly reduced, 5 to 10 minutes. Discard the lemon half.
While the cake is still warm, drizzle with the syrup. Let cool for 30 minutes. Serve with whipped cream (and/or ice cream or chocolate sauce), if desired.

To make ahead:

Refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

182	Calories
7g	Fat
26g	Carbs
5g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 16
Calories 182
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 26g	9%
Dietary Fiber 1g	4%
Total Sugars 20g
Added Sugars 19g	38%
Protein 5g	10%
Total Fat 7g	9%
Saturated Fat 1g	5%
Cholesterol 70mg	23%
Vitamin A 111IU	2%
Vitamin C 1mg	1%
Vitamin D 15IU	4%
Folate 19mcg	5%
Sodium 139mg	6%
Calcium 55mg	4%
Iron 1mg	6%
Magnesium 15mg	4%
Potassium 63mg	1%
Omega 3 1g

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.