Maple Walnut Pound Cake

This scrumptious maple-flavored cake, rich with crunchy walnuts, is the perfect ending to a great meal.

Recipe Ingredients:

Cake:
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup milk
5 large eggs
1 1/2 cups California walnuts, chopped
1/8 cup whole milk
1 tablespoon maple flavoring

Maple Glaze:
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 to 1 1/2 tablespoon milk
1/4 teaspoon maple flavoring

Walnut halves or chopped walnuts for garnish

Cooking Directions:

1. For Cake: In mixer bowl cream butter and sugars until fluffy. In another bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt. In measuring cup combine milk and 3/4 tablespoon maple flavoring; beat into butter mixture alternatively with flour mixture. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Mix in 1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts.
2. Turn into greased 9 or 10-inch tube pan.
3. Bake in lower third of a preheated 300°F (150°C) oven 1 hour to 1 hour, 15 minutes, just until pick inserted into center comes out clean.
4. Cool in pan 15 minutes, then turn out onto rack to cool completely.
5. Drizzle with Maple Glaze and garnish with walnuts.
6. For Maple Glaze: In a small bowl mix powdered sugar with enough milk to make a glaze of thick pouring consistency. Stir in maple flavoring.

Makes 12 servings.

Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of Walnut Marketing Board.