Maple Walnut Cake

Indulge in the heartwarming flavors of autumn with this incredibly moist Maple Walnut Cake. This single-layer masterpiece, generously studded with perfectly toasted walnuts, is crowned with a smooth, velvety maple cream cheese frosting. It’s the quintessential dessert to grace your holiday table this year, promising a slice of pure comfort with every bite.

As the holiday season draws near, the excitement of gathering with loved ones and indulging in delicious food begins to build. If you’re searching for that perfect dessert that balances classic charm with an unforgettable flavor profile, look no further. This Maple Walnut Cake is precisely what you need to make your celebrations extra special. Forget the fuss of complex, multi-tiered creations; this elegant single-layer cake delivers big on taste without requiring hours in the kitchen.

Our recipe marries the earthy crunch of walnuts with the rich, sweet embrace of maple syrup, all brought together in a tender, moist cake crumb. The grand finale is a luscious, ultra-smooth cream cheese frosting, infused with just the right amount of maple to create a symphony of flavors that will have everyone asking for a second slice. It’s a dessert that not only tastes incredible but also evokes the cozy, comforting spirit of the season.

Contents

Why You’ll Adore This Moist Maple Walnut Cake

This Maple Walnut Cake isn’t just another dessert; it’s a celebration of classic flavors and baking simplicity. Here’s why it’s destined to become a staple in your recipe collection:

Effortless Elegance: Sometimes, less is truly more. This single-layer cake offers a beautiful presentation without the challenges of stacking and stabilizing multiple layers. It’s perfect for smaller gatherings or when you want a delightful dessert without the extensive prep.
A Symphony of Flavors: If you’re a connoisseur of maple and nuts, this cake is crafted just for you. The rich, caramel notes of maple syrup beautifully complement the robust, slightly bitter undertones of toasted walnuts, creating a truly harmonious flavor experience.
Unrivaled Moisture and Texture: We’ve perfected a cake base that is wonderfully moist and tender, ensuring every forkful melts in your mouth. The addition of sour cream and brown sugar contributes to this incredible texture, keeping the cake fresh and delightful for days.
Dreamy Maple Cream Cheese Frosting: The crown jewel of this cake is its frosting. A smooth, creamy, and generous layer of maple-infused cream cheese frosting provides the perfect tangy-sweet balance, cutting through the richness of the cake and adding another layer of irresistible flavor.
Perfect for Any Occasion: While it shines as a holiday centerpiece, its comforting flavors make it suitable for any autumn or winter gathering, or even just a cozy weekend treat. It’s versatile, comforting, and always a crowd-pleaser.
Satisfyingly Simple: Despite its gourmet taste, this cake is surprisingly straightforward to prepare. From toasting the walnuts to mixing the batter and frosting, the steps are designed to be accessible for bakers of all skill levels.

Essential Ingredients for Your Maple Walnut Masterpiece

Crafting this delightful Maple Walnut Cake requires a few key ingredients, each playing an important role in achieving its perfect flavor and texture:

All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of our cake, providing structure and tender crumb.
Baking Powder & Baking Soda: These leavening agents ensure a light, airy texture, helping the cake rise beautifully.
Ground Cinnamon: Adds a warm, inviting spice that perfectly complements the maple and walnuts.
Walnuts: The star nut! Toasting them beforehand deepens their flavor and adds a satisfying crunch.
Unsalted Butter: For richness in both the cake and frosting. Using unsalted allows you to control the salt content.
Light Brown Sugar: Contributes to the cake’s moistness and adds a subtle molasses flavor that pairs wonderfully with maple.
Eggs: Act as binders and add richness, structure, and moisture to the cake.
Maple Syrup: The primary flavor enhancer for the cake, bringing its signature sweetness and aroma.
Sour Cream: A secret weapon for an incredibly moist and tender cake, adding a slight tang that brightens the flavors.
Vanilla Extract: Enhances all the other flavors, a must-have in any sweet baked good.
Maple Extract: Boosts the maple flavor, ensuring it truly stands out in both the cake and the frosting.
Cream Cheese: The base for our decadent frosting, offering a tangy counterpoint to the sweetness.
Confectioners’ Sugar: Sweetens and thickens the frosting, creating that smooth, pipeable consistency.
Salt: A pinch in both the cake and frosting balances the sweetness and enhances all the flavors.

Step-By-Step Instructions for Baking Perfection

Follow these detailed steps to create a show-stopping Maple Walnut Cake that will impress everyone:

Cake Preparation

1. Toast the Walnuts: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Spread the walnuts in a single, even layer on a baking sheet. Toast them in the oven for about 7-8 minutes, or until you start to smell their warm, nutty aroma. This crucial step deepens their flavor. Remove from the oven and let them cool completely before roughly chopping. Set aside.

2. Prepare Your Pan: Lightly grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan, or spray it thoroughly with a nonstick baking spray. This ensures your cake releases easily after baking.

3. Whisk Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, baking powder, and baking soda. Whisk them together thoroughly to ensure even distribution of the leavening agents and spices. Once the toasted walnuts have cooled and been chopped, gently fold them into this flour mixture. Set aside.

4. Cream Wet Ingredients: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer and a large bowl), cream together the softened unsalted butter and light brown sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined, about 2-3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Next, beat in the large eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the maple syrup, vanilla extract, and maple extract. Mix until just combined, then gently fold in the sour cream.

5. Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the reserved flour and walnut mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter; overmixing can lead to a tough cake. A few streaks of flour are acceptable.

6. Bake the Cake: Pour the batter evenly into your prepared 9-inch cake pan. Lightly tap the pan on your counter 2-3 times to release any trapped air bubbles. Smooth the top with an offset spatula. Bake for approximately 25-30 minutes, or until the cake is golden brown and a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before inverting it onto a wire rack to cool completely. Ensure the cake is entirely cool before frosting.

Maple Cream Cheese Frosting Preparation

1. Make the Frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat together the room-temperature unsalted butter and room-temperature cream cheese on low speed until smooth and creamy, about 1-2 minutes. Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract, maple extract, and a pinch of salt. Start on low speed to prevent a cloud of sugar, then increase to high speed and beat for 3 minutes until the frosting is light, fluffy, and perfectly smooth. Once the cake has cooled completely, spread the luscious maple cream cheese frosting generously over the top of the cake.

Expert Tips for Maple Walnut Cake Success

Achieving a truly spectacular Maple Walnut Cake is easy with a few simple tricks:

Toast Your Walnuts: This step is non-negotiable! Toasting walnuts in the oven before adding them to the batter intensifies their nutty flavor and adds depth, making a significant difference to the overall taste of the cake.
Room Temperature Ingredients: For both the cake batter and the frosting, ensure your butter, eggs, cream cheese, and sour cream are at room temperature. This allows them to emulsify properly, creating a smooth batter and a lump-free, creamy frosting.
Do Not Overmix: When combining the wet and dry ingredients, mix just until no streaks of flour remain. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, resulting in a dense and tough cake rather than a tender, moist one.
Cool Completely: Patience is a virtue here! Before you even think about frosting, ensure your cake is entirely cooled. Frosting a warm cake will cause the frosting to melt and slide right off.
Generous Frosting is Key: As you can see from the photos, we believe in a bountiful layer of frosting! This cake is designed to have a thick, luxurious topping of maple cream cheese frosting, providing the perfect ratio of cake to creaminess.
Test for Doneness: Use the toothpick test consistently. Insert a toothpick or thin skewer into the center of the cake; if it comes out clean with no wet batter, your cake is perfectly baked.

Variations and Storage Tips

This Maple Walnut Cake recipe is wonderfully versatile, allowing for a few creative twists:

Nutty Swaps: While walnuts are traditional, feel free to substitute them with pecans for a slightly different, but equally delicious, flavor profile. The rich, buttery notes of pecans also pair beautifully with maple.
Spice It Up: Enhance the warm spice profile by adding a tiny pinch of nutmeg or a whisper of ground ginger to the dry ingredients for an extra layer of complexity, especially during the colder months.
Garnish Galore: For an extra touch of elegance, consider sprinkling additional chopped toasted walnuts, a light dusting of cinnamon, or even some candied maple walnuts on top of the frosting. A drizzle of extra maple syrup just before serving can also elevate the presentation and flavor.
Mini Cakes: This recipe can easily be adapted for cupcakes or mini cakes. Adjust baking time accordingly (usually around 18-22 minutes for cupcakes).

Storing Your Maple Walnut Cake

To keep your cake fresh and delicious:

At Room Temperature: If unfrosted, the cake layer can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Refrigerated: Once frosted, due to the cream cheese in the frosting, the cake should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. Allow it to come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving for the best texture and flavor.
Freezing: Both the unfrosted cake layer and the frosting can be frozen separately. Wrap the cooled cake layer tightly in plastic wrap, then foil, and freeze for up to 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. The frosting can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 month and thawed in the refrigerator, then re-whipped before use.

More Delectable Cake Creations to Enjoy

If you’ve loved this Maple Walnut Cake, be sure to explore more delightful cake recipes from our kitchen:

Funfetti Angel Food Cake
Spiced Layer Cake
Chocolate Orange Bundt Cake

Maple Walnut Cake

Servings: 10 servings

This Maple Walnut Cake is a moist, single layer cake that’s studded with toasted walnuts and topped with a smooth and creamy maple cream cheese frosting. It’s perfect for your holiday dessert table this year!

Prep Time: 20 mins | Cook Time: 30 mins | Total Time: 50 mins

Ingredients

Cake

1/2 cup walnuts
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup (one stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup maple syrup
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. maple extract
1/2 cup sour cream, room temperature

Maple Frosting

1/2 cup (one stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, room temperature
2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. maple extract
pinch of salt

Instructions

Cake

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Spread your walnuts on a large sheet pan in an even layer. Bake for 7-8 minutes, or until fragrant. Remove from the oven and let cool completely before chopping. Set aside.
Spray a 9-inch cake pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and the cooled chopped walnuts until well combined. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer (or by hand), combine the butter and brown sugar and beat until smooth and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then add the maple syrup, vanilla extract, and maple extract and mix until well combined. Stir in the sour cream until just incorporated.
Gently stir in the flour mixture until just combined. Do not overmix. Pour the batter into your prepared pan, banging the pan 2-3 times on your counter to release any air bubbles, then smooth the top with an offset spatula. Bake until the cake is golden brown and a tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, about 25-30 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Frosting

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat butter, cream cheese, 2 cups confectioners’ sugar, vanilla and maple extracts, and salt on low speed until combined, about 30 seconds. Increase speed to high and beat for 3 minutes until smooth and creamy. Wait until the cake is completely cooled before frosting.

Notes

I like to toast my walnuts before adding them to the batter to give them a deeper, richer flavor.

This cake has a generous amount of frosting, as you can tell from the photos. We go big or go home when we frost our cakes here!

Bake your cake for roughly 25-30 minutes or until a tester inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean.

Nutrition

Keyword: cake, layer cake, maple, walnut

Cuisine: American

Course: Dessert

Before your first bite, snap a photo and share! If you make this recipe, I’d love to see! Be sure to follow on Instagram and tag Mention @thebeachhousekitchen or tag #thebeachhousekitchen!