Walnut Cake with Syrup

Ingredients

• 8 eggs, separated
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup olive oil
• 1 ½ cup fresh orange juice
• 1 tsp orange zest
• 2 ½ cups flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 cup walnuts, finely chopped
  
  Syrup:
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• ½ cup brandy (optional)
• about 2 tbsp icing sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 375° F (190° C).

Beat egg whites until fluffy with a hand-held or stand mixer. Add sugar and continue mixing, adding 1 egg yolk at a time. While continuing to mix, slowly pour in the olive oil and orange juice, and mix in the orange zest.

Combine the flour and baking powder in a separate bowl, then add to the liquid mixture.
Stir in the walnuts.
Pour batter into an oiled 8-in (20-cm) round cake pan and bake for about 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. When cake has cooled slightly (but is still warm), remove from baking pan and place on a serving dish.

To make syrup:
While cake is baking, combine all ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Let boil until sugar has completely dissolved, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. Pour syrup over cake while the cake is still warm. Sprinkle top with icing sugar.