Name: Karidopita
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 3 h
Yield: 12
Ingredients: 250 g plain flour; 1 tbsp baking powder; 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda; 1/2 tsp salt; 170 g walnuts, finely chopped, plus extra to garnish; 1 tsp ground cinnamon; 1/2 tsp ground cloves or allspice; 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg, optional; 200 g granulated sugar; 120 ml olive oil or melted butter; 3 large eggs; 240 ml milk or buttermilk; Zest of 1 orange; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 300 g granulated sugar; 240 ml water; 170 g honey; 1 cinnamon stick; 2 to 3 whole cloves; Strip of orange or lemon peel; 1 tbsp lemon juice

About Karidopita

Karidopita is a fragrant Greek walnut cake soaked in honey syrup and flavoured with cinnamon, cloves and citrus. It is deliberately moist, rich and best after a few hours of resting, when the syrup has worked through the walnut crumb.

Ingredients

For the cake

250 g plain flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp salt
170 g walnuts, finely chopped, plus extra to garnish
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves or allspice
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg, optional
200 g granulated sugar
120 ml olive oil or melted butter
3 large eggs
240 ml milk or buttermilk
Zest of 1 orange
1 tsp vanilla extract

For the syrup

300 g granulated sugar
240 ml water
170 g honey
1 cinnamon stick
2 to 3 whole cloves
Strip of orange or lemon peel
1 tbsp lemon juice

Method

Heat the oven to 175°C and grease a 23 x 33 cm baking dish.
Mix the flour, raising agents, salt, walnuts and spices.
In another bowl beat the sugar, oil, eggs, milk, zest and vanilla until combined.
Fold the dry mixture into the wet ingredients and spread into the prepared dish.
Bake for about 35 to 45 minutes, until set and a skewer comes out clean.
While the cake bakes, simmer the syrup ingredients for about 8 to 10 minutes, then cool.
When the cake comes from the oven, slowly spoon the cooled syrup over the warm cake in several passes.
Leave for at least 2 hours before cutting so the syrup can distribute evenly.

A closer look

Plan your visit

Recipe tips

Chop the walnuts fairly finely so they stay suspended through the cake.
Do not rush the soaking time; the cake improves as it rests.
Add syrup gradually rather than flooding one area.
The cake is excellent made a day ahead.

What to serve with it

Serve small pieces with Greek coffee. Vanilla ice cream, softly whipped cream or thick Greek yogurt all provide a good cool contrast to the sweet spiced syrup.

The story behind the dish

Karidopita belongs to Greece's family of syrup-soaked cakes, where nuts, warm spices and citrus combine with a fragrant syrup. Recipes vary considerably between families and regions, but walnut and cinnamon are central to its identity.

Where to try it in Corfu

Look for karidopita in pastry shops, cafés and tavernas with a homemade dessert selection. It is not on every menu, so asking what homemade sweets are available that day is often worthwhile.