Coffee Walnut Layer Cake

1. Prepare Cake Pans and Preheat Oven

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter the 8-inch cake pans and line them with parchment paper.

2. Make the Walnut-Sugar Mixture

Blend half a cup of walnut pieces with a cup and two tablespoons of sugar in a food processor until well-mixed.

3. Prepare the Batter

Add two sticks of room-temperature unsalted butter, one and two-thirds cups of flour, a tablespoon of baking powder, half a teaspoon of salt, and four large eggs to the food processor and blend until smooth.

4. Add Coffee

Dissolve one tablespoon of instant coffee in boiling water and combine with two tablespoons of milk. Add this to the batter and mix well.

5. Bake the Cake Layers

Divide the batter between the prepared pans and bake for about 25 minutes or until the cake is springy to the touch.

6. Cool the Cake Layers

Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring them onto a rack to cool completely.

7. Prepare the Frosting

In a food processor, beat together two and a half cups of confectioners' sugar, an eighth of a teaspoon of salt, one and a half sticks of butter, and one tablespoon of the coffee mixture until smooth.

8. Assemble the Cake

Place the first cake layer on a plate, spread a layer of frosting over it, then add the second cake layer on top. Cover the top and sides with the remaining frosting.

9. Decorate the Cake

Press the quarter cup of walnut halves onto the top of the cake in a decorative pattern.