Karidopita (kah-ree-THOH-pee-tah) is a moist and flavorful walnut cake that is flavored with cinnamon and bathed in sweet syrup. It’s a great cake to make ahead because it will keep well covered and at room temperature.  It doesn’t hurt to top it with whipped cream or ice cream.

Cake Ingredients:

• 1 c light olive oil
• 6 eggs
• 1 c whole milk
• 1 c sugar
• 2 c all purpose flour
• 4 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 and 1/2 c coarsely ground walnuts plus 1 tablespoon flour 

Cake Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°.
2. Butter the bottom and sides of a 9 x 13 inch baking dish.
3. Beat the eggs and sugar together for a few minutes until thick and pale.
4. Add the olive oil and milk.
5. Beat well to incorporate.
6. In another bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground cloves and salt.
7. Slowly add them to the egg mixture while gently whisking just until incorporated and most of the batter is smooth. Do not over mix! Otherwise your cake will not be light and fluffy.
8. Combine the ground walnuts with the tablespoon of flour and mix it. This will prevent the walnuts from sinking to the bottom of the cake.
9. Fold in the walnuts gently with a spatula.
10. Pour the batter in the already prepared baking dish.
11. Bake it for about 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

Honey Syrup Ingredients:

• 2 c sugar
• 1 c honey (measure your honey after measuring the oil for the cake. Doing this makes the honey slide out of the measuring cup much easier.)
• 3 c water
• 1/4 tsp whole cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick

Syrup Directions:

1. While the cake is baking, prepare the honey syrup.
2. Combine all of the ingredients into a saucepan.
3. Bring it to a boil while stirring.
4. Let it continue to cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes until very slightly thickened.
5. Turn off the heat and allow the syrup to cool completely before removing the cloves and cinnamon stick.
6. As soon as the cake is done baking, remove it from the oven.
7. Poke it all over with a toothpick.
8. Pour all of the cooled honey syrup over the cake slowly, allowing it to be absorbed.

Garnish Ingredients:

• 1/2 c ground walnuts
• 1 tsp powdered sugar
• a pinch of ground cloves
• ¼ tsp ground cinnamon

Garnish Directions: 

1. Combine the walnuts with the powdered sugar, cinnamon and cloves.
2. Sprinkle over the cake to garnish.

Enjoy!!

Serves:  8 -12

Source:  Dimitra’s Dishes via Cathy Painter, Allison Paintaer