Coffee Walnut Bundt Cake

Coffee flavor is favorite at my home, especially the strong coffee types. Growing up mom used to prepare coffee with palm jaggery daily morning in a big clay pot, and we used to have it all round the day. The clay pot keeps it cool and it feels like having a quencher rather than a beverage. At my home black coffee was liked mostly other than the creamy sweeter ones. I still like espresso more than the creamy ones, because then only we get the real roasted coffee smell, which when adding milk or cream can dilute a bit. Even I have memories from my childhood, plucking coffee beans from the garden and eating as such :)

Things were different the place I am married to, coz they were never coffee lovers. But of course as a wife my responsibility is to spoil my husband at least from the gang to my path, so mean me right :P The first coffee I made was not black coffee though, coz I know a person who is not so fond of coffee may not like it and it is always good to start with less riskier ones, may get a "Cultural Shock", business students will understand the context better :D.  I made a creamy coffee, which has milk and cream in 1:1 ratio and sugar of course and it was piping hot. I presented my trial in front of him with a sweet smile, and he knows there is something menace behind the smile. He asked, "Do you want something from me?" Haha! I told why do you think so with an innocent face and asked him to drink it and see, and behind my mind whispering, "Boy it is to take you to my track". 

But the effort was real worthy. He became fan of my coffee and later on in evenings he says, "Mom, don't make tea. Swathy will make coffee for me". Oh I enjoyed hearing it a lot :D

 Later on Mocha flavor has become his favorite and I used to bake Mocha cakes, Mocha drinks a lot during that time. Of course the little one drools over whatever I and his dad eats, so he too a coffee addict now. This time I thought, its 11 long years and his taste buds have strong sense of liking to coffee now, why can't I try making a pure coffee cake. Adding to it the walnuts, yeah coffee and walnuts are friends. The beauty of the cake lies in the bundt pan used, the creases on top of it and ganache flowing over it! The flavor combination is inspired from a coffee walnut ice cream which I tried from Corner House Bangalore. So enough of talking, now over to the recipe.

Ingredients

All purpose flour - 2 cup
Baking powder - 2 tsp
Baking soda - 3/4 tsp
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Butter - 3/4 cup
Sugar - 1 3/4 cups
Coffee powder - 2 tbsp
Hot water - 1 tbsp
Fresh cream - 1/4 cup
Butter milk - 1/2 cup
Eggs - 3 to 4 nos
Vanilla essence - 2 tsp
Chopped walnuts - 1/2 cup

Topping

Coffee powder - 1 tbsp
Chocolate grated - 1/2 cup
Water - 1 tbsp
Honey - 3 tbsp
Chopped walnuts to sprinkle

                                                         

Method:

Sift together all dry ingredients and keep aside.
Cream together butter and sugar until fluffy and pale. 

Add eggs and fresh cream and beat well until combined well. Mix hot water and coffee for a thick espresso and add to it. Add vanilla essence as well. Mix well and start adding dry ingredients in 3 to 4 batches, alternating with butter milk. Do not over mix. If the batter is too thick add some milk.

Butter a bunt pan and pour batter. Bake for 40 to 45 mins in preheated oven at 180 C for first 30 mins and 160 C for next 10 to 15 mins.