Italian Torta di Noci
- 1/2 lb walnuts
- 8 tablespoons butter, room temperature
- 2/3 cup Sugar
- 1 Egg
- 2 tablespoons Rum, or or 1 teaspoon rum extract
- 2 teaspoons Lemon zest
- 1 cup Flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Baking powder
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Place the walnuts on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for 5-7 minutes, taking care not to burn. Remove and cool.
- Place the walnuts in a food processor with the 1 tablespoon of sugar and pulse until well chopped but not pureed. Remove to a bowl.
- Add 7 tablespoons of the butter and the 2/3 cup sugar to the bowl of an electric mixer and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low, add the egg, rum or rum extract and lemon zest and continue to beat until smooth.
- Sift the flour and baking powder together into a large bowl. With the mixer still running on low, slowly add the flour mixture until just incorporated. Remove the bowl from the mixer and using a spatula, fold in the walnuts.
- Butter a 8 or 9-inch spring form pan or regular cake pan with the remaining 1 tablespoon of the butter. Pour the batter into prepared pan and level it out with a knife or spatula.
- Place in the oven and bake 40 to 55 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Tastes great with whipped cream or good ole American Ice Cream
