This Karydopita recipe is a cherished Greek walnut cake tradition at holiday tables across Greece. Featuring a rich blend of walnuts, cinnamon, cloves, orange zest, and honey or sugar syrup, it embodies the flavors of Greek Christmas desserts. I’ve been making this recipe for decades, and it first appeared in my very first book, The Food & Wine of Greece (published in 1990). It’s a true classic! This spiced, syrup-soaked cake is beloved for its joyful blend of warm holiday spices and nuts, both hallmark ingredients of Greek festive baking. There’s a trick to the syrup—keeping it slightly thin and pouring it cooled over a hot cake ensures it permeates the crumb perfectly instead of pooling at the bottom.