At the café this dessert is accompanied by raspberry sauce and topped with whipped cream.

　　

Ingredients

Makes one 9-inch cake

　　

For base

1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter

　　2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

　　1/4 cup packed light brown sugar

　　2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

　　3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts

　　1 large egg

　　2 teaspoons vanilla

　　

For filling

1 1/2 cups walnuts

　　1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter

　　1 cup packed light brown sugar

　　1/4 cup honey

　　1/4 cup heavy cream

　　1 teaspoon vanilla

　　1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

　　

For ganache

1 1/4 cups heavy cream

　　1 pound fine-quality bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate

　　

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350°F and butter a 9-inch springform pan.

　　

Make base:

Step 2

In a small saucepan melt butter and stir in cocoa powder. Remove pan from heat and add brown sugar, stirring until dissolved. Stir in flour, walnuts, egg, and vanilla and spread batter evenly in springform pan. Bake base in middle of oven 10 minutes, or just until firm, and transfer to a rack to cool.

　　

Make filling:

Step 3

Arrange walnuts in one layer on top of base. In a small heavy saucepan combine butter, brown sugar, and honey and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes, or until a candy thermometer registers 280°F. Remove pan from heat and add cream, vanilla, and lemon juice, stirring until smooth. Cool mixture to room temperature and pour over walnuts, spreading evenly.

　　

Make ganache:

Step 4

In a saucepan bring cream just to a boil. Finely chop chocolate. Put chocolate in a metal bowl and pour hot cream over it, stirring until smooth. Cool ganache to room temperature and beat with an electric mixer until it just holds soft peaks (do not overbeat or it will become grainy).

　　

Step 5

Spread ganache evenly over filling. Chill cake, covered, at least 4 hours and up to 1 day.

　　

Step 6

Run a thin knife around edge of cake and remove side of pan. With a large spatula transfer cake to a plate and let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before serving.