I have been looking to try out more gluten-free recipes, since I realized how beneficial they can be for our health. For people with digestive issues, it really makes a huge difference. And, thankfully, alternatives to glúten are becoming common and sometimes are even tastier.
That is the case for this cake, which replaces the classic wheat flour with ground walnuts. I love adding dry fruits to my cakes, and this was no exception – it turned out super soft and fluffy, just as I like them. With a little salted caramel for the final touch, it is one you can’t miss out on.
Walnut and Pear Cake (Gluten Free)
with salted caramel
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 5 egg yolks
- 100 g light brown sugar
- 100 g white sugar
- 200 g walnut flour
- 80 g walnuts (coarsely chopped)
- 2 pears (peeled and chopped into cubes)
- 1 tbsp Port wine
- 1 tsp cinnamon powder
- 9 egg whites
Salted caramel:
- 100 g white sugar
- 50 ml water
- 150 ml heavy cream
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tsp fleur de sel
Instructions
For the cake:
- Preheat the oven to 180 º C.
- Beat the yolks with the sugars until you have a paler mixture.
- Add the Port wine and cinnamon. Mix a little more.
- In a food processor, blitz 200 g of walnuts to get a flour-like consistency. Coarsely chop the remaining nuts with a knife.
- Add the walnuts to the mixture and beat once more.
- In the mixer, beat the egg whites to stiff peaks.
- Carefully fold the egg whites into the mixture, without overmixing.
- Spread the cake batter in a rectangular cake pan (mine is about 28 x 15 cm), previously greased.
- Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the center of the cake comes out dry.
- Let the cake cool down for a few minutes, then unmold on a serving plate.
For the salted caramel:
- In a pan mix the sugar and water.
- Bring over medium heat until it starts to caramelize.
- Pour in the cream slowly, mixing carefully.
- Keep mixing until the caramel sauce thickens a little.
- Stir in the butter and salt.
- Transfer the caramel to a clean container and let it cool down.
- When it is time to serve the cake, spread the caramel sauce on top.
