Coffee And Walnut Cake Baking Time

Asked by Puffin123. Answered on 2nd June 2016

Full question

I made the Coffee And Walnut Cake for the first time and how it cooks in just 25 minutes surprises me, mine has taken nearly twice as long and as I opened the oven door at 25 minutes it has sunk. Very disappointed, especially as making it for friends.

Our answer

Nigella's Coffee And Walnut Layer cake (from KITCHEN) is a coffee and walnut flavoured sponge cake that is covered with a coffee flavoured buttercream. The sponge cake itself is similar to a Victoria sponge mixture, but has some finely ground walnuts included in the batter.

The cake layers are baked in 2 x 20cm sandwich tins (8-inch cake pans) at 180C/350F and the suggested baking time is 25 minutes, though as ovens vary the actual time can be a few minutes quicker or slower than this. This time is not an unusually short time for a 4-egg sponge baked in two layers, and a similar Victoria sponge would usually take 20 to 30 minutes to bake. However if the cake were cooked in one single springform pan then it would take much longer to bake through. Also if the cake tins are deep then the baking time can be longer as the higher sides of the tin can shield the cake. But if the cake is in two layers and taking an exceptionally long time to cook then it may be worth checking the oven temperature with an oven thermostat. Also the cake layers should be baked on the middle shelf of the oven. The cake layers are baked once they are risen and feel springy, and not soft, to the touch. A cake tester inserted into the centre of the cakes should also come out clean.