Karidopita (Greek walnut pie)

Ingredients:

• 2.5 cups finely chopped walnuts
• 1 cup sifted premium wheat flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• A pinch of ground cloves
• 110 g butter
• 1/4 cup superfine sugar
• 4 eggs, separated into whites and yolks

Syrup:

• 1 cup of ultrafine sugar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 tbsp brandy
• 4 buds of cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 3 pieces of orange peel (excluding the white part)

Preparation:

1. For the syrup: Heat the sugar, honey, water, and brandy over medium-high heat until the sugar dissolves. Reduce the heat to low and add the cloves, cinnamon stick, and orange peel. Simmer for 5-6 minutes and remove from heat. Remove the orange peel, cloves, and cinnamon stick and let the syrup cool.
2. Preheat oven to 180°C.
   
   For the pie: In a medium bowl, combine walnuts, flour, baking powder, cinnamon and cloves.
   
   In a medium bowl, beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until fluffy. Slowly add the egg yolks, continuing to beat. Slowly add the walnut mixture and beat well.
3. In a very clean bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Fold the beaten whites into the other ingredients until a smooth batter forms.
   
   Grease a 9 x 13-inch (23 x 33 cm) baking pan. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Place the pan in the oven and bake the pie until golden brown, about 45 minutes.
   
   Remove the pan from the oven and pour syrup over the pie until completely soaked. Cover with a kitchen towel and let cool. Cut into diamonds and serve.