194 The Best Mother-in-Law and Her Hungarian Walnut Torte

The Storied Recipe

194 The Best Mother-in-Law and Her Hungarian Walnut Torte

November 12, 2025

Today’s guest Lynn describes Maria — just like a glowing fairy come to life: barely five feet tall, vivacious, chatty and outgoing, and as charming as they come.

So imagine this tiny Maria 100 years ago, just a teenager tripping over the cobblestone streets of Budapest, chatting with her friends, then opening an heavy, ornate and entering a cafe -

And quickly, let’s replace our images of a “cafe” - the cafes of 20th century Budapest were grand, glittering spaces. Picture soaring ceilings multiple stories high, crystal chandeliers, marble pillars, rich, heavy window treatments, carved staircases, and waiters in tuxes.

Tucked in the corners were the who’s who of Budapest - poets, intellectuals, and artists.But Maria and her girlfriends were simply there to do their homework — giggling, whispering, and flirting like any teenagers over the clinking of silver spoons against porcelain coffde cups.

Maria, the daughter of a cafe owner herself, knew and loved all the famous cafes - and they loved her. In fact, as family legend has it, she charmed the pastry chefs into sharing their best recipes for tortes and cakes.

A century later, Lynn opened a nondescript box and discovered fifty-two of Maria’s recipes, handwritten in Hungarian. Well — fifty-one of Maria’s recipes. There was one, a simple Walnut Torte, just like what would have been served in those grand cafes, written in English - not by Maria, but by Maria’s daughter-in-law, Janice, who is Lynn’s mother-in-law.

That recipe card from became the basis of the cake Lynn has dubbed “Mother-in-Law Cake” and she shares with us today.

Listen to Lynn Now

Images of Maria! Around a year. In front of the Pariament buiding. The street behind with the trolley is Falk Miksa street. Screenshot Screenshot

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Follow The Storied Recipe in Your Favorite Player Lynn's Storied Recipe: Walnut Layer Cake with Mocha Frosting https://thestoriedrecipe.com/apple-dumplings-pastry-wrapped-apples/ Contact Lynn

Lynn's Website: Family Tree Foodie

Lynn's Hungarian Heirloom Walnut Torte on her website

Email Lynn: familytreefoodie@gmail.com

Lynn's Instagram: @familytreefoodie

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194 The Best Mother-in-Law and Her Hungarian Walnut Torte

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