Election Day Recovery: Walnut Cake

Yesterday was election day. I left work early to vote. Afterwards, I spent about an hour and a half watching election coverage (i.e. wild speculations about the next two years based on what might or might not be happening, since the results weren't actually in). I got so annoyed that I turned off the television and went to do something productive. I baked a cake.

lovely golden egg yolks

If your candidate won, you'll want to celebrate. If s/he lost, you will need comforting. Either way, you will need cake. And this is an incredibly easy cake to make. It has 4 ingredients. It's only one layer and it doesn't need frosting. 

egg yolks, sugar and lemon zest

It's also an incredibly rich cake, so a little will go a long way. I recommend a cup of strong coffee with this. Or maybe some brandy. Elections can take a lot out of a person.

ready to go into the oven - a little streaky with egg whites

Republican or Democrat, Libertarian or Green, win or lose, we all need cake.

Post Election Walnut Cake

 - from Food 52

3/4 pound (340 grams) shelled walnuts

4 eggs, separated
1cup (225 grams) caster sugar
Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
Confectioners' sugar for dusting

Pulverize the walnuts in a food processor until you have a coarse meal, the texture of sand.

Prepare a round 9-inch cake pan by lining it with parchment paper (or grease it with butter and lightly dust with flour or almond meal).

Beat the egg yolks with the sugar until pale and creamy. Add the lemon zest and walnut meal and stir to combine. Whisk the egg whites in a separate bowl until they form stiff peaks. Fold the whites bit by bit into the walnut mixture until well combined.

Pour the mixture into the prepared cake pan and bake at 350º F (180º C) for about 50 minutes, or until the top is firm and browned nicely. Let cool before dusting with confectioners' sugar.

Normally, I would put it on a plate before dusting it with sugar, but I couldn't get it out of the pan.

Use parchment paper!  And doesn't it look like Pac Man?