Toasted Walnut Cake Filling Recipe

Written by
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about our editorial process
Diana Rattray
Portrait of Diana Rattray smiling
Published on 08/27/19 by Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats's Editorial Process

Updated 08/27/19

Layered Cake with Frosting, Drizzle, and Walnuts
Michael Piazza / Getty Images
  • Total: 45 mins
  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Cook: 30 mins
  • Yield: 1 Cup (4 Servings)
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
391 Calories
26g Fat
31g Carbs
11g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1 Cup (4 Servings)
Amount per serving
Calories 391
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 26g 34%
Saturated Fat 7g 34%
Cholesterol 241mg 80%
Sodium 95mg 4%
Total Carbohydrate 31g 11%
Dietary Fiber 2g 5%
Protein 11g
Calcium 81mg 6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This toasted walnut cake filling recipe is a unique and delicious icing to use in any vanilla, chocolate or almond layer cake.

Toasting nuts bring out all their good qualities. But there's a trick to toasting nuts so they don't burn. Read about how to toast nuts below to make sure you don't have any mishaps. This filling is too good to spoil with over-browned nuts.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 large room-temperature egg yolk (slightly beaten)
  • 3/4 cup toasted walnuts (chopped)

Steps to Make It

Combine brown sugar, salt, butter, and water in top of double boiler and heat until sugar is dissolved. Pour over egg yolk, return to double boiler, and cook until thickened, stirring constantly. Cool. Add walnuts. Spread between layers. Makes enough filling to spread between two 8-inch layers.

How to Toast Nuts

  1. Heat oven to 350 F.

  2. Spread nuts out in a single layer on a baking sheet.

  3. Bake, stirring occasionally. The length of time will depend on the nut being toasted. Walnuts and pecans, for example, typically take 10 to 15 minutes while hazelnuts and macadamia nuts take 12 to 15 minutes. Sliced almonds take 7 minutes and whole almonds need to toast for 10 minutes. Pine nuts toast in 5 minutes and bear close watching because they can go from golden to black in seconds. 

  4. Alternatively, toast nuts in an ungreased skillet over medium heat, stirring, until golden brown and aromatic.

  5. If your recipe calls for chopped toasted nuts, make sure they have cooled completely before chopping.

More Ways to Fill Layer Cakes

  • Cherry Filling Recipe: The same filling used to make cherry pie can be used to fill the layers of a multi-tiered cake.

  • Date Filling Recipe: This date filling is equally at home in a hand pie as it is between the layers of a moist cake.

  • Cream Filling Recipe: This is essentially a Bavarian cream filling made super easy with instant vanilla pudding and cold milk.

  • Coconut Filling Recipe: Here's another tropical-tasting filling made with frozen coconut, evaporated milk, marshmallows, and sugar. When combined with chocolate cake and a ganache topping, it attempts to replicate the flavor of a Mounds candy bar.