The traditional Greek Chocolate Walnut Cake, also known as Karidopita or Karithopita, is a chocolate delight, that was actually never intended to be made with chocolate!
Over the past few decades, however, Greeks have activated their sweet senses and incorporated chocolate into their recipes.
Below is a recipe for Greeks to make Karidopita in their own kitchens, written by Greek Boston.
Chocolate Walnut Cake Recipe Ingredients:
Karidopita:
- 1 cup mazola or canola oil
- 1.5 cups sugar
- 1.5 cup chopped walnuts
- 4 cups flour (use gluten-free if following a gluten-free diet)
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 cup cognac
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp clove
- 4 tsp baking powder
With chocolate:
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Syrup (optional):
- 2 cups sugar
- 2.5 cups water
- 1 small cinnamon stick
How to Bake Chocolate Walnut Cake:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a large baking pan with cooking spray or brush with Greek olive oil.
Sift together dry ingredients in a large bowl, excluding the 4 cups of flour. In a small bowl, mix wet ingredients. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix well.
Add the cocoa powder with the flour and add 1 cup of chocolate chops.
Pour the batter into the pan and bake in the centre of the oven. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean. This should take about 45 minutes.
To make the syrup, boil the water, sugar and cinnamon stick on low flame for about 20 minutes until the syrup slightly thickens. Strain the syrup and pour it on top of the cake.
Cut the cake and enjoy.
