Garash Torte
Garash Torte is considered one of Bulgaria's most beloved cakes, first appearing in the late 1950s at a confectionery in Sofia. The name is said to come from the pastry chef who created it, though the stories about his exact identity vary from source to source. Unlike many European cakes built on flour, Garash uses ground walnuts as the base for its layers, a choice that reflects the abundance of walnuts in Bulgaria's orchards. Since then it has become a fixture of any birthday or family celebration in Bulgaria, often prepared from recipes carefully passed down through generations.
Ground-walnut layers
The cake layers contain no flour, just finely ground walnuts that give them a dense, moist texture.
Rich chocolate cream
The layers are joined with a velvety chocolate cream made from dark chocolate and cream.
Five thin layers
The classic torte has five thin sheets, carefully stacked for an elegant look when sliced.
Optional rum syrup
Many family recipes brush the layers with a little rum syrup for extra depth of flavor.
Ingredients 4 servings
- 300 g walnuts, finely ground
- 8 eggs, separated
- 200 g sugar
- 200 g dark chocolate, melted
- 300 ml heavy whipping cream
- 50 g butter, at room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp rum (optional, for the syrup)
- Chocolate shavings, for garnish
How to make it
- 1Separate the eggs and beat the yolks with half the sugar until creamy and pale.
- 2Fold the finely ground walnuts into the yolks, mixing gently for an even batter.
- 3Whisk the egg whites into stiff peaks, gradually adding the remaining sugar, then fold them delicately into the walnut mixture in two or three additions.
- 4Divide the batter among five round pans lined with parchment paper and bake each layer at 180°C for 10-12 minutes, until springy to the touch.
- 5Let the layers cool completely on a rack before assembling.
- 6For the cream, melt the chocolate with the butter, then whip the cream with the vanilla and fold it gently into the cooled chocolate.
- 7Assemble the torte by alternating layers with chocolate cream, brushing each layer with a little rum syrup if desired, then coat the whole cake with the remaining cream and decorate with chocolate shavings before chilling for a few hours.
Nutritional info
per serving (~350 g)
Estimated nutritional values.
Pairs perfectly with
