Gata: “Coffee Cake” With Walnuts

A not-too-sweet treat served with coffee or tea, gata is made by enclosing a butter-and-flour filling with dough—most of the time. No two gata are alike: Some are made with a yeasted dough and baked in a tonir while some are made into individual portions, almost like scones. And some—like this one—are filled with nuts. Want to see what we're talking about? Watch our video!

This recipe is one we learned how to make in Dilijan, a beautiful Armenian city in the mountains. We’ve reengineered it to fit standard measurements in America, but the low-tech spirit of the dessert—and the rich walnut filling—is true to the original.

A few notes before you start: Handle the dough gently so it doesn’t become tough once it’s baked. Read the shaping method before you start so you can anticipate the shape you’ll need to create to form the gata. In some cases, the filling may bubble out of part of the gata as it bakes. Don’t worry, it will still taste good.