On Christmas morning I turn into a giddy child. I have a hard time sleeping on the 24th and I wake up early, probably way too early, filled with excitement for the morning ahead. Around noon, we head to my husband’s parents place where we eat our Christmas dinner, open presents, do a jigsaw, eat faspa, and play games before heading home in the evening. But Christmas morning belongs to just the two of us and I don’t want to waste a moment of it.
Sure, presents are awesome, but I actually love the whole ritual of making coffee, putting on Christmas music, lighting up the tree and just hanging out with each other. Last year, I made this walnut cake on Christmas eve and we ate a slice with our coffee for breakfast. It’s buttery and rich and not too sweet and I thought it was perfect as a simple Christmas breakfast. The walnuts give a great crunch – just to sure to use the best walnuts you can find. Bad walnuts are awful and good ones are a thing of beauty. If you’re going to eat cake for breakfast, why not eat it on Christmas day?! I made this cake recently and loved it just as much as I did last year. I think I see a new tradition in the making.
I want to wish all of you a very merry Christmas and a happy holiday season. When I’ve had harried thoughts about maybe letting this blog slip into the abyss, it’s your comments and unbelievably amazing emails that are a big part that keep me coming back. I’ve met so many wonderful people because of this space and I’m tremendously grateful for that. I love sharing my recipes and slices of my life with you all, so thank you so much for sticking around, putting up with my infrequent posts and helping to make this blog what it is. I’ll see you after Christmas and into the new year (and beyond!). Thanks guys for being so awesome.
walnut cake
(recipe adapted from Sweet Amandine)
2 c all-purpose flour
1 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
3/4 c chopped walnuts
3/4 c unsalted butter
3/4 c granulated sugar
3 eggs
1 t vanilla
1/4 c whole milkPreheat the oven to 325F. Butter and flour a loaf pan. Set aside.
Whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt in a medium sized bowl. Stir in the chopped walnuts.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, whip the butter until soft. Add the sugar gradually and whip until fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, waiting until each egg has fully incorporated before adding the next. Add the vanilla. Add the dry ingredients and the milk alternately to the butter mixture, stirring only until all the flour is dampened.
Fold in batter into the prepared pan and bake for 1 1/4 hrs, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan for ten minutes before turning out onto a rack. Cool.
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Walnut Cake might be a nice change of a pace. In my family, we always woke up to opening presents. However, when it came time for a break, usually Christmas Cookies were on the menu. Oh, someone might pull out the odd box of cereal, but there is just something about eating a sprinkled blue star that keeps the Christmas mood going. 🙂
Thank you very much for your blog. I love it. I love walneuts, but over here the English go and ruin it by putting coffee in their walnut cake;of course that is only my opinion! I like to drink coffee but don’t really want it in my cake. They also put coffe in the frosting as it is quite often made in a layer form.
Do you think this cake could be made in a square or rectangular pan?
Merry Happy to you and yours, Jeanette.
This is the first time I’ll be home on Christmas morning in a long time and I’m thinking I need to make some kind of decadent breakfast for my mom. This sounds perfect!
That sounds like a great recipe and a nice Christmas morning tradition. I love Christmas morning too, but I am awakened by my children who are eager to open their presents. We always take a break in the gift opening to eat cinnamon rolls and egg casserole while sipping hot chocolate. Food is part of most holiday traditions, isn’t it? Happy Holidays!
Your blog is such a delight – visually and contents. Thank you for sharing your recipes and thoughts over the years. Happy Christmas to you and Cornelius and may the coming year bring you much to smile about.
I thought I recognized that cake… So glad you like it. I’m with you on the importance of first-rate walnuts, here. What’s this talk of the abyss? Don’t you dare take a single step in that direction, Ms. Kickpleat. I forbid it! Have a wonderful Christmas. xo.
Oh yes, fresh walnuts are a must! I get them at the bulk store where I know they get replenished on a regular basis. Last night I made a lemon pistachio pound cake for three of my neighbours. You’d get one too if you were my neighbour 🙂 This is a great sounding cake that I will have to add to my cake making agenda at some point.
Ha, love it Lisa! Hooray for eating blue Christmas stars for breakfast. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Catherine! Yes, I think you could bake this in a regular pan, though I do feel the crumb is dense which makes the loaf pan a perfect vehicle for this kind of cake. Make sure you check the baking time much earlier since a different pan will reduce the baking time. Enjoy!
Enjoy the cake, Joanne & enjoy the holidays at home!
Thanks Connie for stopping in – sounds like a wonderful holiday tradition.
Oh, thank you, Marianne so much for your nice comments. Happy holidays right back atcha! Thank you!
Jess, thank you so much for bringing this cake into my life. I love it a whole lot. And thanks for the props, sometimes I need a little help 🙂 Happy Christmas to you & yours!
Aw, thanks Joanne – that cake sounds amazing! Hooray for neighbour gifts and good cakes. Thank you!
you always make the best things for christmas morning
last year you did this too
this year I plan to sleep in–I hope, on christmas morning.
I can’t think of a better morning to eat cake. Happy Christmas to you and yours.
mmmmmmmm i love cake for breakfast! i can almost smell this one baking in the oven. i hope you enjoy your christmas traditions to the very fullest! thanks for all the wonderful recipes and stories. reading your blog brightens my day!
Traditions are my most favorite part of Christmas. And cake for breakfast is a pretty spectacular tradition! Merry Christmas Jeanette!
Aw thanks, VSB!! Hope you enjoyed your sleep in 🙂
Same to you, Renee!
Karen, so happy to hear that! Thanks!
The best to you, Amanda!! Thanks so much.
Wanted to thank you for this recipe! I made this for New Year’s and it was delicious… Even good a few days later toasted and smeared with lemon curd. Thanks for posting this.
Ooh, Rachel, I’m sure this would have been lovely toasted. Nice call…and I’m sure with lemon curd, wow!
This looks awesome! I love anything with walnuts. Can’t wait to try it! I could see this being a perfect Christmas breakfast but I am so not waiting until next December to try it! 🙂
Stephanie, don’t wait until next Christmas 🙂 It makes a great loaf any old time!!