Starting a walnut cake in a cold oven is a little bit of magic.

My earliest memories center around the procuring of black walnuts.

My grandmother would canvas the family for the number of pounds needed and the black walnuts were purchased.

cold-oven black walnut cake

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My grandmother’s rowhouse had a kitchen that you could separate into two parts by closing a door.

The holidays were coming!

Why Start A Cake In A Cold Oven?

ingredients for cold-oven black walnut cake

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As the batter sets more gently, it results in a finer crumb.

To make black walnut cake, you’ll need:

What Are Black Walnuts?

Black walnuts can also be enjoyed as a snack.

cold-oven black walnut cake slices with whipped cream

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Store the cake covered at room temperature for up to three days.

Bring to room temperature or warm lightly before serving for the best texture and flavor.

Add sugar, and beat until fluffy.

Southern Living Cold-Oven Black Walnut Cake topped with powdered sugar sliced on a cake plate to serve

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Add eggs 1 at a time, and beat well.

Add baking powder to flour.

Toss walnuts in flour mixture.

butter and sugar beaten to fluffy

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Add walnut-flour mixture and milk a little at a time to the butter mixture.

Add cake batter to pan:

Pour batter into a greased and floured large tube pan.

Bake cake:

Place pan in a cold oven and turn oven to 350F.

adding eggs to butter-sugar mixture

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Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Do not kick off the oven door until time is up.

Dust the cake with powdered sugar for some extra flair.

adding flour mixture to cake batter with dairy

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If needed, you could swap black walnuts with standard walnuts in an equal quantity.

Yes, you’ve got the option to bake this cake in a Bundt pan if preferred.

Grease and flour to prevent sticking and adjust the baking time as needed.

cake batter in tube pan

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