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    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    Gluten Free Karidopita - Walnut Cake

    Published: Jun 17, 2014 · Updated: May 29, 2020 by Peter G · This post may contain affiliate links · 7 Comments

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    I take a classic Greek walnut cake and change it to a gluten free karidopita. I think I may prefer it to the original.

    gluten free karidopita recipe

    Yes. Yes and YES!!!

    After many attempts and many different flours and combinations I have perfected the recipe for a gluten free karidopita.  A "karidopita" is a walnut cake that has been drenched in syrup. It is flavoured with orange, cinnamon an ground cloves.

    The original recipe for this cake can be found here if you are interested.  Apart from walnuts the traditional recipe calls for breadcrumbs a whopping 250g of butter and quite a bit of sugar.  

    Yes. It's quite decadent.  And as a lover of all things cinnamon it definitely has my stamp of approval!

    I adore this cake.  But...I can't help but tinker with the traditional. That's just me.

    gluten free karidopita recipe

    In this updated version, I've attempted to eliminate a lot of the sugar by substituting honey. I've also done away with the breadcrumbs and used almond meal.

    This gluten free karidopita is full of nuts and to my surprise it actually held together beautifully.

    I'm no stranger to using ground nuts in cakes. I just wasn't sure how the walnuts would work without any other type of traditional flour.  

    The honey along with the vanilla, cinnamon and orange provide the perfect hint of warmth to enjoy during this cooler weather.

    My syrup was made with honey and water and then infused into the cake after it came out of the oven.  

    I've topped it with a little coconut sugar and sprinkled some orange zest to complement the other ingredients.

    Stunning! Even if I do say so myself!  My only criticism is that I may have overcooked it a little too long, hence its very dark colour.

    I'm hoping you will enjoy this as much as I do.

    Cheers!

    Gluten Free Karidopita-Walnut Cake

    Author: Peter G
    This classic Greek– "karidopita" - walnut cake receives a gluten-free makeover. I think I may prefer it to the original. I'm sure you'll love it too.
    4.17 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 50 mins
    Total Time 1 hr 10 mins
    Cuisine Greek
    Servings 8 slices

    Ingredients
      

    DRY INGREDIENTS:

    • 300 g walnuts, shelled
    • 100 g almond meal
    • 3 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
    • 3 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 pinch salt
    • zest of 1 orange

    WET INGREDIENTS:

    • 4 eggs
    • 125 ml honey
    • 60 ml orange juice, freshly squeezed
    • 60 ml butter, melted
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 tablespoon brandy, or cognac

    HONEY SYRUP:

    • 60 ml honey
    • 60 ml water
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    FOR THE TOPPING:

    • 2 tablespoon coconut sugar
    • zest of 1 orange
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    Instructions
     

    • Preheat your oven to 170 deg C and line and grease an 18cm baking tin with baking paper. Prepare the honey syrup by mixing the honey, water and vanilla in a small pot over medium-high heat. Allow to come to a boil and cook for 2-3 mins until reduced slightly. Set aside to cool completely.
    • Place your walnuts in a food processor and grind them into a "semi-fine"" meal. There should be a mixture of fine and coarse bits. Place this in a large bowl and to that add the almond meal, cinnamon, cloves, baking powder, salt and orange zest. Stir to combine.
    • In a separate bowl or large jug mix the eggs, honey, orange juice, ghee, vanilla and cognac or brandy. Mix well and pour into the walnut mixture. Stir to form a batter and pour into the baking tin.
    • Cook the cake for 45-50 mins or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake is clean. Allow the cake to rest for 10 mins in the tin before inverting onto a plate. Pierce the cake with a skewer to make several holes on the top and pour over the cooled honey syrup.
    • Allow to cool completely before sprinkling with coconut sugar and orange zest.

    Notes

    If you find the cake is browning too quickly cover with foil halfway (around the 30min mark) during the baking process. A serving of double cream would be perfect with this!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 slice | Calories: 496 kcal | Carbohydrates: 32 g | Protein: 11 g | Fat: 39 g | Saturated Fat: 7 g

    This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

    © Souvlaki For the Soul

    Made this recipe?Let me know how you went and tag @souvlakiman on Instagram!
    Greek gluten free karidopita served on a plate

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    1. Rosa

      June 17, 2014 at 11:37 pm

      An interesting recipe. This comforting cake must taste wonderful.

      Cheers,

      Rosa

      Reply
    2. Helen (grabyourfork)

      June 19, 2014 at 3:46 am

      Should not be looking at this at 3am. I need cake! NOW!

      Reply
      • Elena

        April 20, 2022 at 5:31 am

        Hi Peter, this recipe looks amazing, can the butter be replaced with another fat to make this cake dairy-free? Will it work with olive oil? Efharisto poli!

        Reply
        • Peter G

          April 24, 2022 at 11:09 am

          Hi Elena. I have never tested this myself but I see no issue with trying it. I would use a light-flavoured olive oil.

          Reply
    3. Hannah

      June 19, 2014 at 5:21 pm

      Wow this looks awesome. You're pictures are fabulous!

      Reply
    4. Maureen Shaw

      June 20, 2014 at 12:12 pm

      So dark and moist and almost mysterious. Love it!

      Reply
    5. The merrymaker sisters

      July 02, 2014 at 9:05 am

      Wow! This looks awesome! AND it's paleo friendly (minus the brandy!)! We might have to re-make this one! Our heritage is greek too but we're yet to try some authentic greek recipes like this one! Thanks so much Peter! 🙂 e + c

      Reply

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    Peter Georgakopoulos owner of Souvlaki For The Soul

    Yeia sou! I'm Peter! I consider Greek food to be the best food in the world. Let me show you how easy it is to prepare traditional and modern Greek recipes in your kitchen. And bonus points if you like baking too!

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