Lovers of chocolate hazelnut spread are going to love this cake. It's exceptionally easy to make, yet is super impressive to serve when you want to impress. Easy Chocolate Hazelnut Cake with Whipped Cream.
This cake is one for celebrations! I recently made this for a friend who was just finishing up some invasive medical procedures, and who needed to celebrate in a big way!
I started with a recipe I found in a cookbook called - French Country Cooking, Authentic Recipes from Every Region, written by Francoise Branget.
But as you can tell from the photos, my cake turned out drastically different, after I decided to veer off the page. Here's what Francoise's cake looks like in the book:
And here's my version, and the one I'm sharing the recipe for:
While Francoise's Hazelnut Cake is more rustic in look, I think that mine is a bit more refined. And with my additions of cocoa powder, chocolate hazelnut spread, and whipped cream, I find it pretty hard to resist and I hope you do too.
Printable Recipe Card
Chocolate Hazelnut Cake with Whipped Cream
Ingredients
For the cake:
- ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ cups confectioner's sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups raw organic hazelnuts divided
- 12 egg whites reserve the yolks for another use
- 9 tablespoons butter melted and cooled
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 6 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 6 tablespoons chocolate hazelnut spread
For the whipped cream:
- 4 cups heavy cream
- 4 tablespoons confectioners sugar
- 3 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Tools for success
- 3 8 inch round round cake pans
- baking spray
- food processor
- stand mixer or hand mixer
- 2 cooling racks
- off-set spatulas
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Prepare baking pans by spraying them liberally with baking spray. Set aside
- Place 1 cup of hazelnuts in a food processor and pulse until the nuts are finely ground. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, 1 cup of confectioner's sugar, cocoa powder, salt, and ground hazelnuts.
- Switch to a wooden spoon or spatula and stir the melted butter, water, and vanilla into the flour and hazelnut mixture. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer (or a large bowl with a hand mixer), whip the egg whites on high until soft peaks form.
- Spoon half of the whipped egg whites into the flour and hazelnut mixture and gently fold to incorporate and lighten the batter. Add the remaining whipped egg whites to the batter and gently fold to incorporate.
- Divide the batter evenly into 3 prepared cake pans.
- Bake cakes in preheated oven for 18-20 minutes. Remove the pans from the oven and cool on a cooking rack for approximately 10 minutes.
- Place a second baking rack on top of the partially cooled cakes and carefully flip the pans and racks together. Remove the cake pans from the cakes. Place the cooling rack on top of the cakes and carefully flip the cakes again so the cakes are right-side-up. Cool the cakes completely.
- Whip the heavy cream in the chilled bowl of a stand mixer, or a large bowl with a hand mixer, until soft and fluffy.
- Add 3 tablespoons of confectioners sugar and 3 teaspoons of vanilla to the whipped cream and stir to combine.
- Spread 2 tablespoons of the chocolate hazelnut spread evenly on top of each cooled cake round.
- Place one of the cake rounds on a serving plate, chocolate hazelnut spread side up.
- Top the cake with approximately 1½ cups of whipped cream and spread the whipped evenly over the cake.
- Continue layering the cakes and whipped cream, ending with a layer of whipped cream to end.
- Rough chop the remaining 1 cup of hazelnuts and sprinkle on top of the cake to finish.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
Nutrition
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I hope you've enjoyed the recipe I've shared with you today as much as I've enjoyed sharing it with you. If there are any questions I can answer for you, please leave me a comment at the end of this post and I'll be happy to answer it for you. Ready. Set. Bake!!
If there is ever anything I can paint for you, from fabrics (aprons and tea towels) to glassware, please don't hesitate to contact me or visit my shop on Etsy and Wazala (you can find the links in the navigation bar). Custom orders are always welcome, and I will happily paint and design from any photo or description you send my way.
Kudos Kitchen by Renée ~ Where food, art, and fun collide on a regular basis!
Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day!
Sarah Walker Caron (Sarah's Cucina Bella) says
What a gorgeous cake! The layers look so impressive and refined.
Nikki @ Nik Snacks says
Your cake looks beautiful! Such a wonderful adaptation. Recipes are only guidelines anyway!
Marjory @ Dinner-Mom says
Gorgeous cake and beautiful photography! This is definitely the centerpiece of the dessert table.
Kirsten/ComfortablyDomestic says
Your version of the cake is definitely a show-stopper! I'm still giggling about the transport issue. 😉
Martha @ A Family Feast says
What a gorgeous cake Renee! And you are such a sweet friend... 🙂
Kim Beaulieu says
That's so sweet of you for making this for your friend, hope things are better.
I love hazelnut so this is right up my alley. Love the layers and whipped cream.
Beth says
I think I would pay $7-8 for one slice - do you deliver? 😉
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes says
Wow - I love your version of this cake! Anything hazelnut is always my favorite!
The Food Hunter says
I love the chocolate hazelnut combination! The presentation of this cake is awesome!
Cathy | Lemon Tree Dwelling says
Wow - what a gorgeous cake! Definitely impressive and perfect for a celebration!
Serene @ House of Yumm says
I'm loving all the layers in this cake! It looks wonderful!
Jenn @ P+C says
Such a gorgeous cake! Save me a slice, will ya?!
Lauren Kelly Nutrition says
I absolutely love this cake! It is so pretty! And these pictures! I need to get this cookbook too!
Amanda | The Chunky Chef says
Wow Renee, this cake is super impressive!! I love these layer cakes where the outside isn't covered in frosting, they look so elegant 😉
Stephanie says
Yep, I would not be able to resist this cake!
Kacey @ The Cookie Writer says
I love hazelnuts! Your cake turned out lovely! Now, bring it this way 🙂
PS: Loving the new look of your site!
DessertForTwo says
Well this sounds fantastic!
Colleen (Souffle Bombay) says
SUCH a pretty cake! Love your take on it. The cover of the book is gorgeous as well. You are a good friend...making a cake like that, so thoughtful. Hope your friend is feeling better 🙂