This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
WW Recipe of the Day: Nana’s Maple Walnut Birthday Cake
Some dishes and recipes are worth the Weight Watchers Points. This special birthday cake is one of them.
Today my grandmother, who died just two weeks ago, would have turned 94.
For as long as I can remember, my Mom and Nana, whose birthdays are just a day apart, have celebrated them together.
And Mom has been making Nana the same birthday cake since she discovered it at a bake sale more than 50 years ago.
Maple Walnut Cake Using Cake Mix and Maple Extract & Maple Walnut Frosting
We call it maple walnut cake. It’s just a boxed white cake mix made according to the package instructions that is embellished with maple extract and chopped walnuts, but Nana loved it and looked forward to it every year.
So for me this is the cake forever associated with Nana’s birthdays.
More than a decade ago I decided to try to be with Mom and Nana for their March birthdays as often as I could. I’m glad I did. The years passed quickly and now a family tradition has come to a close.
Although Nana wasn’t here to enjoy her cake today. I made it anyway. The family and friends who have been celebrating with her all these years wanted it; needed it. We are still recovering from our loss. As we adjust to life without her gentle presence, we craved the sweetness of her special cake.
Food can be so much more than fuel for our bodies. It can connect us, bridge cultures, carry history, make friends, create community and evoke memories.
Nana’s birthday cake helped to make today a just little sweeter.
Do you have a sweet food memory to share?
Nana’s Birthday Cake
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1 package white cake mix
- Ingredients for making the cake as directed on the box
- 2 tablespoons flour, optional
- 1 tablespoon maple extract
- 1 cup chopped walnuts, plus more for garnish if desired
For the Frosting
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
- 1.5 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons maple extract
- 2 tablespoons milk, plus a little more as needed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour a bundt pan (affiliate link).
- Make the cake according to the package directions, adding the maple extract and additional flour if desired. Stir in the nuts. Pour into the prepared bundt pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool on a rack 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the pan and allow to cool completely. Frost with maple icing. Sprinkle with chopped nuts if desired.
- To make the frosting, put the butter and cream cheese into a very large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer (affiliate link) until very smooth. Gradually add 1 cup of the powdered sugar and beat well. Add the milk and maple extract and beat well. Gradually beat in the additional half-cup of sugar. Beat in enough additional milk until the frosting reaches the spreading consistency you desire.
Notes
More Maple-flavored recipes…
- Maple Cranberry Crunch Cereal Bars – Simple Nourished Living
- Maple Nut Streusel Coffee Cake – Betty Crocker
- Maple Apple Ginger Cake – Baking Bites
- Maple Walnut Blondies – Best Ever Cookie Collection
- Maple Pecan Bread – Betty Crocker
- Maple Cookies – Simply Recipes
The recipe for frosting 1.5 C p. sugar, but directions says add 2 C beat then gradually add last cup ( 3 C total) ??
Hi Susan, It should be the 1.5 cups of sugar to keep this recipe on the lighter side. I’ve changed the instructions. Sorry for the confusion. ~Martha
My eyes are full of tears – tears of joy for your Nana to have been loved by her grandchildren; tears of love that Nana had for her family. Life without love is lonely. I will remember your Nana as a courageous woman and her advice on driving – Maine to Florida – she said as she was undertaking the drive by herself for the first time, “I know I can drive one hour because I have driven an hour to family” so I will drive one hour at a time to get to Florida and she did. Brave woman. Love to all of you who have been blessed for knowing “Nana”. Your mother, Marjorie, and Dad, Tom, are always in my heart as well as you, Martha, Brenda and Peter. Jean
What a nice tribute to your Mom and Grandma –
they are so proud of you!!!
Dotty