Castagnaccio (Tuscan Chestnut Flour Cake)

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Cakes cupcakes Easy

Castagnaccio (Tuscan Chestnut Flour Cake)

A dense, naturally sweet chestnut flour cake with a crackled top, studded with pine nuts, walnuts and raisins and scented with rosemary. It is naturally gluten-free. Makes 1 cake in about 55 minutes.

Prep 15 min

Cook 40 min

Total 55 min

Servings 12

Diet Dairy free, Vegan

Ingredients

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servings

2 cups (250 g)chestnut flour, sifted
1 ⅔ cups (400 ml)cold water
3 ½ tbsp (50 ml)extra-virgin olive oil, for the batter
¼ tsp (2 g)fine salt
¼ cup (30 g)pine nuts
¼ cup (30 g)walnuts, chopped
5 tbsp (40 g)raisins, soaked 15 minutes, drained
¼ oz (3 g)fresh rosemary, small sprigs
2 tsp (10 ml)extra-virgin olive oil, to oil the pan and top, for the toppings

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Instructions

Heat the oven to 400 F (200 C). Oil a 10-inch (25 cm) round pan or shallow baking dish well.
Whisk the chestnut flour and salt in a bowl, then slowly whisk in the cold water until smooth and free of lumps. Stir in the 50 ml olive oil.
Pour the batter into the pan; it should be about 1/2 inch (1.2 cm) deep.
Scatter the raisins, pine nuts, walnuts and rosemary over the top and brush with a little olive oil.
Bake 35 to 40 minutes until the surface cracks and darkens and the edges pull away from the pan.
Cool in the pan and serve warm or at room temperature in thin wedges.

Tips

Sift the flour, as it clumps easily.
Use cold water for a smoother batter.
Do not overbake; it should stay moist and dense.
Good with sweet wine or ricotta.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make castagnaccio (tuscan chestnut flour cake)?

Plan on 15 minutes of prep and 40 minutes of cooking. The recipe makes 1 cake (12 servings).

How should I store castagnaccio (tuscan chestnut flour cake)?

Cover and keep at room temperature up to 3 days.

Can I make castagnaccio (tuscan chestnut flour cake) ahead?

It is at its best the day it is made; prepare it a few hours before serving.

Is this recipe vegan?

Yes, as written. Check that packaged ingredients such as chocolate, sprinkles and plant butter are labeled vegan.

Serve it with sweet wine or ricotta.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 12 servings this recipe makes.

158 Calories / serving

7.8g Fat

19.3g Carbs

3.1g Protein

2.2g Sugar

Whole recipe (12 servings): ~1896 cal · 94g fat · 232g carbs · 37g protein · 26g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.