Hazelnut Cream Cake Recipes

HAZELNUT CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 170c degrees and grease the pan.
• In a mixer whip egg whites and salt until white foam begins to form. Increase the whipping speed and gradually add the sugar until stable and shiny meringue is formed.
• In a separate bowl, whisk egg yolks, vanilla and Frangelico, and add into the meringue while whipping slowly.
• Fold in the flour, ground hazelnuts and baking powder until completely blended.
• Pour the mixture into the baking pan, flatten the top and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in center of cake comes out completely dry.
• Cool the cake completely at room temperature and cut into 3 even layers.
• In a small saucepan put milk and vanilla and heat to a simmer.
• In a bowl whisk egg yolks, sugar and cornstarch until smooth.
• Pour about 1/3 of milk mixture over the yolks while whisking until smooth. Add in the remaining milk and continue to whisk until blended.
• Return the mixture into the pan and cook over medium heat, while whisking, until thick cream forms.
• Remove from heat and add the butter. Beat until incorporated and smooth.
• Transfer the cream into a flat container and cover the surface with plastic wrap (to avoid crust formation).
• Cool the cream in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours, until it is completely cold.
• Transfer the cold cream into a bowl and whisk until it returns to the original texture.
• Add in praline paste and whisk until blended.
• Whip the heavy cream to stiff peaks and gently fold into the praline cream until smooth.
• Keep the cream in the refrigerator until assembly of the cake.
• In a small pot heat water and sugar to a boil. Cook 3-4 minutes and remove from heat.
• Cool and add in the Frangelico.
• Place a layer of cake on a serving plate and gently brush with syrup.
• Spread about a 1/4 of cream and place another layer of cake over. Brush with syrup, and spread another 1/4 of cream over the second layer.
• Top with the third layer and brush with syrup.
• Cover the cake with the remaining cream using a long palate knife.
• Decorate with hazelnuts and powdered praline.

TRIPLE HAZELNUT CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• To make the cake, grease 2 (9 by 2-inch) round cake pans with shortening and line bottoms with parchment rounds. Grease parchment and dust each pan with 1 tablespoon flour, shaking out excess. Set pans aside.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a medium bowl whisk together the eggs, liqueur, and hazelnut extract until blended and set aside.
• In a large bowl of an electric stand mixer, gently combine on low speed 3 1/3 cups flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and hazelnuts until blended. Add the butter and sour cream and beat on low speed until dry ingredients are moistened.
• Increase speed to medium and beat for 2 1/2 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl occasionally. In 3 separate additions, add the egg mixture to the batter, beating for 30 seconds after each addition. Divide batter evenly into the prepared pans and bake on the center rack for 40 to 45 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into the center of each cake comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes. Remove from pans, discard parchment and cool cakes completely on wire racks, 1 to 2 hours.
• To make the hazelnut filling, in a medium saucepan melt the butter over medium heat.
• Sprinkle with flour and whisk until smooth. Reduce heat to medium-low, add the sugar and cream and cook, whisking constantly, for 7 to 10 minutes or until mixture is thickened. Stir in the hazelnuts, salt, liqueur, hazelnut extract, and chocolate and cook just until chocolate melts. Set aside in a bowl and cool completely.
• To make the chocolate buttercream frosting, melt chocolate in the top of a double boiler over medium heat until smooth. Set aside, off the heat, and cool completely. In a large bowl whisk together the sugar and egg whites until blended. Place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and whisk until mixture reaches 140 degrees F.
• Remove mixture to a large bowl of a stand mixture with a whisk attachment and beat on low speed for 1 minute to cool slightly. Increase speed to high and beat for 4 minutes or until mixture is cool to the touch and doubled in volume. Reduce speed to low and add the softened butter 1 tablespoon at a time, beating well after each addition, until all of the butter has been added. Continue to beat until mixture looks smooth. Fold in the melted chocolate and the hazelnut extract and beat until fluffy.
• To assemble the cake, split each cake layer horizontally in half to make 4 separate layers. Spread equal amounts of the hazelnut filling between each layer and frost top and sides of cake with the buttercream. To garnish, press chopped hazelnuts onto the sides of the cake. Using a pastry bag fitted with a star tip, pipe rosettes around the top rim using remaining frosting. Place whole hazelnuts and chocolate curls on the top of the cake.
• Tip: To make this cake an easier undertaking, take the time to search out hazelnuts that have already been peeled. If peeled nuts are unavailable, working in batches, boil nuts in 2 cups water along with 2 tablespoons baking soda for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Run nuts under water and slip off skins. Dry the nuts well and toast on a baking sheet in a 350 degree F oven for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool and finely chop and proceed with recipe. If you purchase the nuts already peeled, toast in a 350 degree F oven for only 15 minutes.

HAZELNUT CREAM FILLING

Steps:

• Put cream into mixing bowl and mix on high until soft peaks form, about 4 minute Refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Whisk egg whites and sugar in a bowl while in a pan of boiling water and temp reaches 160 deg(this helps the sugar fully dissolve).
• Attach bowl to mixer with the whisk attachment; beat on high speed until slightly cooled and stiff peaks form (but not dry), about 5 minutes.
• Switch from whisk attachment to paddle attachment. Set on medium and add butter, several pieces at a time, mixing well after each addition (meringue will deflate slightly as butter is added). Add vanilla, hazelnut cream (you can add 1 tsp hazelnut syrup **not extract** to the "1/3 cup heavy cream", if you cannot find hazelnut cream), salt; mix until mixture comes together.
• Fold in the whipped cream that has been put aside in the fridge.
• Fill your favourite pastry.
• This saves well, refrigerated, but will firm up. Best to let it come to room temperature when using later.
• Time includes the time it takes for whipped cream to set up in the fridge.

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT CREPE CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare the crepe batter: Whisk together eggs, egg yolks, milk and cream in a medium bowl. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, hazelnut meal, sugar and salt. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour in some of the milk mixture. Gently whisk from the center of the well, making a thick, smooth batter. Then, while whisking, gradually add remaining milk mixture and whisk until smooth. Whisk in vanilla and butter. (Alternatively, combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend on low speed until smooth.) Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 48 hours.
• Prepare the chocolate cream: Place chopped chocolate in a medium bowl and set a fine mesh sieve over the bowl. In a medium saucepan, whisk together sugar, cornstarch, cocoa powder and salt. Whisk in some of the milk to create a thick paste. Gradually add remaining milk while whisking until mixture is smooth and well-combined. Whisk in egg yolks and add butter.
• Cook milk mixture over medium heat, whisking constantly and occasionally scraping the bottom and sides of the pan with a rubber spatula. Once the mixture comes to a boil and becomes very thick, about 5 minutes, whisk it vigorously for 1 to 2 minutes. Press hot cream mixture through the sieve into the bowl with the chocolate. Let it stand for 2 minutes, then mix it until smooth and well-combined. Add brandy or coffee and stir to combine. Use a rubber spatula to stir the mixture until it has cooled to about room temperature and is smooth and silky. Cover with plastic wrap, pressed into the surface of the custard, and chill until ready to use.
• Cook the crepes: Melt a little bit of butter in an 8-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat and let the pan get hot. Remove the pan from the heat and immediately add a scant 1/4 cup (about 3 tablespoons) crepe batter to one side of the pan. (You don't want to use too much batter or you'll have thick crepes.) Quickly tilt and swirl the pan to spread the batter to an even thickness across the bottom of the pan and about 1 inch up the sides.
• Return the pan to the heat and cook crepe until very lightly golden and set on one side, about 45 seconds. Tuck a small offset spatula under the edge of the crepe, grab onto it with your fingers, and quickly flip it over. Cook until light golden brown on the other side, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Slip crepe onto a rack to cool. Once crepes are cool, transfer them to a baking sheet and cover with a light towel to keep them from drying out. Continue with remaining batter, occasionally wiping out the skillet with a paper towel and very lightly buttering the skillet every few crepes as needed. You should have 20 to 24. (You need 20 for the cake.)
• To assemble, stir the cream until smooth. Lay 1 crepe on a cake plate. Using an offset spatula, cover with a thin layer of chocolate cream (2 to 3 tablespoons), leaving a 1/4-inch border. Cover with a crepe and repeat to make a stack of 20, with the best-looking crepe on top. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours.
• To serve, top with whipped cream, nuts and dust with cocoa.