Maple Walnut Pound Cake

1 3/4 cups chopped toasted walnuts
2 1/4 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/4 cups softened unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups sugar
5 eggs
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
3/4 teaspoon maple flavoring
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

GLAZE:
1/2 stick butter
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons whipping cream
6 tablespoons powdered sugar

Butter and flour 12 C Bundt pan; finely grind walnuts. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into bowl, set aside. Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, add eggs 1 at a time, beating in between. Beat in maple syrup, maple flavoring, and vanilla. (batter may look curdled, this is okay). Mix in dry ingredients, fold in walnuts. Pour batter in pan, bake at 350ºF for 45-60 minutes. Cool 10 minutes, remove from pan.

GLAZE: Melt butter with syrup and cream - remove from heat. Add sugar and whisk until smooth. Cool until slightly thickened (15 minutes). Drizzle over cake, garnish with walnut halves if desired.