Walnut Cake

Dough

Preheat the oven to medium temperature

Grease the cake pans and dust with cake flour

Beat the egg whites until stiff

Add the sugar and beat until stiff peaks form

Add the eggs

Beat for an additional 3 minutes

Add the cake flour and walnuts

Mix well

Bake for 40 minutes

Let cool before serving

Filling

Cook the sugar with water over low heat until it reaches a soft-ball stage

Let cool

Add the egg yolks and stir over heat, thickening the mixture

Set aside

Topping

Cook the sugar with water over high heat, stirring constantly, until it reaches a hard-ball stage (see page 43)

Stop stirring and cook until the syrup is very thick

In a stand mixer, beat the egg whites until stiff

Add the warm syrup in a thin stream and beat until firm

Place one of the cakes on a plate and spread with the filling

Cover with the other cake and topping

Decorate with walnut halves.