Maple Walnut Cake with Maple Frosting

Ingredients

Cake

• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 1 Tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 Tablespoons vegetable shortening, room temperature
• 2 cups maple syrup
• 3 large egg yolks
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/4 cup whole milk
• 1 cup walnuts, toasted, coarsely chopped

Frosting

• 3 cups confectioners' sugar
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2 Tablespoons maple syrup
• Toasted walnut pieces
• Chopped dark chocolate

Directions

1. Heat oven to 325F. Grease a 9 x 13 inch cake pan, line with parchment, and grease again
2. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt
3. Using a mixer, cream the butter and shortening until fluffy
4. Add the maple syrup and beat until smooth; add egg yolks and whole egg, one at a time, beating until smooth after each
5. Alternate adding the flour mixture (3 additions) with the milk (2 additions)
6. With a spoon, stir in the walnuts
7. Divide the batter and bake for 40-50 minutes until a cake tester comes out clean.
8. Cool in pan and then flip pan and remove, transferring to a cooling rack and cool completely.

Frosting

1. Beat the confectioners' sugar, cream cheese and butter until smooth
2. Add the maple syrup and whip until combined.
3. Spread over cooled cake thickly.
4. In a small bowl, mix together chopped toasted walnuts and chopped chocolate and sprinkle on cake before serving.