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Flourless Chocolate Hazelnut Cake
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Flourless Chocolate Hazelnut cake

The secret to this delicious and decadent cake is Nutella! This cake is sure to satisfy any chocolate-hazelnut fan.
Yield: two 4 or 5 inch cakes
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 3 oz dark chocolate (72%) , chopped
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter , room temp, cut into tablespoons
  • 3 large eggs , separated
  • ½ cup Nutella hazelnut spread , or any chocolate hazelnut spread
  • cup ground toasted hazelnuts *
  • 1 Tablespoon Frangelico (hazelnut liqueur)
  • ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • additional toasted hazelnut , chopped for garnish
  • chopped dark chocolate , for garnish

Chocolate Glaze:

  • 4 oz dark chocolate (72%) , chopped
  • 4 oz heavy cream
  • 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
  • pinch fine sea salt
  • 2 teaspoon Frangelico (optional)

Instructions

  •  Preheat oven to 350℉.  Lightly butter two 4½- inch springform cake pans and line bottom with parchment paper.  Set aside.
  • Place chopped chocolate and butter in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave at half power (50%) for 20 second intervals until melted and mixture is smooth. Stir in between intervals to ensure even melting. Set aside and allow to cool slightly.
  • In a large bowl, combine egg yolks, Nutella, ground hazelnuts, and Frangelico. Mix until smooth. Add melted chocolate mixture and fold to combine.
  • In a medium bowl, add egg whites and salt. Using a hand mixer, beat egg whites to stiff peaks. Add ⅓ of egg whites to large bowl with chocolate mixture. Fold to combine. Add another ⅓ of egg whites and fold to combine. Repeat with remaining ⅓. Fold until there are no longer any egg white streaks.
  • Divide cake batter between the two prepared cake pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes until the cake has puffed up and the tops of the cake have cracks. Insert a toothpick in center of cake to test for doneness. Allow cakes to cool in pan for 5 minutes before unmolding. Allow to cool on wire racks.

Chocolate Glaze:

  • Place chopped chocolate in a medium bowl. Bring cream to a simmer. Pour hot cream over chocolate. Add butter and cover bowl with plastic wrap and allow to sit for one minute.
  • Remove plastic wrap and stir ganache until homogenous. Add a pinch of salt and optional Frangelico. Stir until incorporated. Let sit for 5 minutes to allow glaze to cool and thicken.
  • Pour glaze over cooled cake. Garnish cake with chopped toasted hazelnuts and chopped chocolate.

Notes

* To make ground hazelnuts: Preheat oven to 350℉.  Toast hazelnuts in oven for 8-12 minutes until the skins begin to separate from the nut. Rub the warm hazelnuts in a clean dish towel to remove the skins.  Let hazelnuts cool to room temperature.  In a food processor, pulse hazelnuts until ground.
Store finished glazed cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days.