Maple Walnut Cake (Gateau A L'erable Et Noix)

---------- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.05

Title: MAPLE WALNUT CAKE (GATEAU A L'ERABLE ET NOIX)
Categories: Cakes
Yield: 12 Servings

1/2 c Unsalted butter; room temp.
1/2 c Light brown sugar (packed)
2 Eggs; beaten to blend; - roo
2 1/2 c Cake flour
2 ts Baking powder
1/2 ts Baking soda
1 c Maple syrup
1/2 c Hot water
-----maple walnut praline---
1 c Maple syrup
1 c Chopped walnuts
-----maple whipped cream----
2 c Whipping cream
6 tb Powdered sugar
1 ts Maple extract; or...
To double this amount

FOR CAKE: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 8- to 9-inch round
cake pans. Using electric mixer, cream butter and brown sugar. Beat in
eggs in thin stream. Combine flour, baking powder and baking soda in
another bowl. Alternate adding dry ingredients, syrup and hot water to
butter mixture, blending until smooth. Bake until tester inserted in center
comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool completely. Wrap; chill thoroughly.
FOR PRALINE: Lightly grease baking sheet. Boil syrup in heavy small
saucepan until candy thermometer registers 300 degrees F (hard-crack
stage). Remove from heat. Stir in walnuts. Pour onto prepared sheet.
Cool until set. Transfer to processor and mix to fine powder. FOR WHIPPED
CREAM: Beat cream with sugar and extract to stiff peaks. TO ASSEMBLE: Cut
off top crusts from cake layers. Set 1 layer on platter. Spread lightly
with whipped cream. Sprinkle lightly with praline. Top with second cake
layer.
Spread top and sides lightly with whipped cream. Spoon remaining whipped
cream into pastry bag fitted with star tip. Pipe lattice design atop cake;
pipe border around bottom edge of cake. Press praline onto sides; sprinkle
any remainder on top. Serve Maple Walnut Cake chilled or at room
temperature.

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