Walnut Cake (Karydotourta)

• 2 cups ground walnuts
• 8 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 small coffee cup of brandy (cognac)
• 1/2 cup fine breadcrumbs (rusk/galeta)
• 2 tablespoons chocolate drink mix (Drinking Chocolate) or cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 1 vanilla pod/packet
• a little orange blossom water

For the Syrup

• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3-4 drops lemon juice

For the Topping

• 2 packets (2X100g) vanilla-flavored whipped cream powder
• 1 cup walnut milk (made from walnuts)

1. Beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form (meringue). Remove from the mixer bowl and add the egg yolks and sugar. Beat until they form a cream.
2. Add the breadcrumbs and the remaining ingredients. Lower the mixer bowl and gently fold in the meringue using circular motions so as not to deflate the air.
3. Pour the mixture into a baking pan lined with non-stick parchment paper. Bake for 30 minutes in a medium oven. When it cools down, drizzle it with the warm syrup.

For the Syrup:

4. Boil all the ingredients for 5-6 minutes. Let it cool and then whip the cream powder with the milk.
5. Spread the whipped cream over the cake.
6. Decorate with chopped walnuts and place the walnut cake in the refrigerator to chill before serving.