I read your post and knew I had a recipe for Walnut Cake. I have not made it myself so I cannot tell you how good it is. It comes from a cookbook dated 1950 so this might just be the recipe you want. Good Luck!

BLACK WALUT SPICE CAKE

3/4 cup soft shortening
1 1/4 cups brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
3 eggs
2 3/4 cups sifted all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 cup black walnuts, cut up
-toasted black walnut halves for decoration

Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour two 9 inch round cake pans; set aside. In a large mixing bowl cream together shortening sugars until fluffy. add eggs and beat in thoroughly. In separate bowl sift together the dry ingredients. Stir in dry ingredients a cup at a time alternately with the buttermilk. Fold in walnuts. Pour into prepared pans. Bake until cake tests done, about 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool and remove from pans. Finish with White Butter Icing or desired filling and frosting.

WHITE BUTTER ICING

3 cups sifted powdered sugar
1/3 cup soft shortening (or butter for richness and flavor)
about 3 Tablespoons cream or milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

In a mixing bowl blend together powdered sugar and shortening. Stir in cream or milk and the vanilla and blend until smooth.