Hazelnut Cake with Nutella Mousse
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, plus more for the pan
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for the pan
- 1 1/2 cups unhusked hazelnuts, toasted
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- Pinch kosher salt
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup hazelnut paste
- 1 1/2 cups Nutella
- 1/2 cup mascarpone cheese or cream cheese
- 1 cup heavy cream, chilled
- For the hazelnut cake: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter and flour a 9-inch round or square baking pan.
- Pulse the hazelnuts until coarsely chopped in a food processor.
- Reserve.
- Combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt together in a medium bowl.
- Combine the butter, sugar and vanilla in a large mixing bowl, and then beat until the mixture is light and fluffy, using an electric mixer.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time.
- Add the hazelnut paste and beat until incorporated and there are no lumps.
- Gradually add in the flour mixture, stopping the beater when it is just combined.
- Fold 1 cup of the chopped hazelnuts into the batter, reserving the rest for garnish.
- Transfer the batter to the pan and bake until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the middle of the cake, 20 to 30 minutes.
- Let the cake cool 10 minutes, then remove from the pan and let cool completely.
- For the nutella mousse: Mix the Nutella and mascarpone in a large bowl to combine.
- Beat the heavy cream in another large bowl, using a hand mixer, until just under soft peaks.
- Add in the Nutella mixture in 2 additions, and beat until you don't see any streaks.
- Place the mousse in a pastry bag fitted with a medium star tip.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- To serve and assemble the cake: Cut the cake into 3-inch squares or rounds and cut each in half equatorially.
- Pipe the mousse on both the bottom and top halves of each of the cakes, and then give each cake a light sprinkey-dink of the chopped hazelnuts.
- Serves: 6 to 8 servings
unsalted butter, flour, hazelnuts, cocoa, baking powder, kosher salt, sugar, vanilla, eggs, hazelnut paste, nutella, mascarpone cheese, heavy cream
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/hazelnut-cake-with-nutella-mousse-recipe.html (may not work)