Il Cucinologo
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Creamy Chocolate and Hazelnut Cake

17/11/2023

The creamy chocolate and hazelnut cake is a decadent dessert that combines the sweetness of hazelnuts with the rich and deep flavor of chocolate. Here is an Italian version of this delicious cake:

Ingredients

  • 200 g of high-quality dark chocolate
  • 150 g of toasted hazelnuts, finely chopped
  • 100 g of butter
  • 100 g of granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs, separate the yolks from the whites
  • 50 g of powdered sugar (for the egg whites)
  • A pinch of salt
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract or a bit of vanilla powder

Optional:

  • A pinch of cinnamon or chili powder for a spicy touch
  • Whole or halved hazelnuts for decoration

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
  2. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler together with the butter, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
  3. In a bowl, beat the egg yolks with the granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and combine this mixture with the melted chocolate.
  4. Fold the chopped hazelnuts into the chocolate mixture.
  5. In another bowl, beat the egg whites to stiff peaks with a pinch of salt. When they start to become foamy, gradually add the powdered sugar and continue beating until you have a glossy, stiff meringue.
  6. Gently fold the beaten egg whites into the chocolate and hazelnut mixture, being careful not to deflate them.
  7. Pour the mixture into a buttered and floured cake pan or one lined with parchment paper. Smooth the top gently with a spatula.
  8. Bake for about 25-30 minutes or until the center of the cake looks set but still slightly moist and soft to the touch.
  9. Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan before unmolding.
  10. If desired, decorate with whole or halved hazelnuts and dust with powdered sugar before serving.

The cake keeps well for several days if stored in the refrigerator and can be served at room temperature or slightly warmed to enhance its creaminess.

Trivia

Hazelnuts are deeply connected to Piedmontese cuisine, particularly the city of Alba, and their combination with chocolate is world-famous thanks to specialties like gianduia. This cake thus represents a wonderful meeting of simple ingredients and rich, full flavors.