Gramma K’s Maple Walnut Meringue Cake

Ingredients

• 1¾ cups walnut pieces
• ¾ cups maple syrup, divided (we prefer any of the maple syrups from BLiS Gourmet)
• 4 large egg whites at room temperature, to ensure proper whipping (source the eggs locally if possible)
• ½ cup sugar
• ¾ cups light brown sugar, packed
• 2½ cups whipping cream (we think the cream from Hilhof Dairy is the best in the area)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Bourbon or whiskey to taste (we really like the whiskeys from Iron Fish , Ethanology , or Mammoth Distilleries here in northern Michigan)