Chocolate Hazelnut Cake
- 2 1/4 cups tawny Port
- 10 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped
- 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 1 cup ground toasted hazelnuts (about 3 1/2 ounces)
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 5 large eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 6 tablespoons whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 12 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped
- 1/2 cup finely chopped toasted hazelnuts
- 1/2 cup husked toasted hazelnuts
- 1/2 cup unhusked toasted hazelnuts
- Boil tawny Port in heavy large saucepan until reduced to 10 tablespoons, about 15 minutes.
- Set reduced Port aside.
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Butter 9-inch square baking pan with 2-inch-high sides.
- Line bottom with parchment.
- Butter parchment.
- Dust pan with flour; tap out excess.
- Melt chocolate and butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until smooth.
- Pour into large bowl.
- Cool slightly.
- Whisk in 4 tablespoons of reduced Port, ground nuts and cocoa.
- Using electric mixer, beat eggs and sugar in another large bowl until mixture whitens and triples in volume, about 6 minutes.
- Add chocolate mixture and fold together.
- Pour batter into prepared pan.
- Bake until top forms crust and cracks, and tester inserted into center comes out with moist crumbs attached, about 55 minutes.
- Transfer cake to rack and cool 30 minutes.
- Press down on crusty portion of top to even.
- Run small sharp knife around cake sides to loosen.
- Cool 2 hours.
- Turn cake out onto 7-inch cardboard square.
- Peel off parchment.
- Bring cream, corn syrup and remaining 6 tablespoons reduced Port to simmer in heavy medium saucepan.
- Reduce heat to low.
- Add chocolate and whisk until smooth.
- Let stand until cool but still spreadable, whisking occasionally, about 5 minutes.
- Place cake on platter.
- Spread chocolate icing over top and sides of cake, forming waves in icing atop cake.
- Press chopped hazelnuts onto sides and 1/2 inch over top edge to cake.
- Alternate husked and unhusked hazelnuts atop cake along chopped hazelnut border.
- Refrigerate cake at least 4 hours.
- (Cake can be prepared 1 day ahead.)
- Cut cake into slices and serve.
tawny port, bittersweet, butter, ground toasted hazelnuts, cocoa, eggs, sugar, whipping cream, light corn syrup, bittersweet, hazelnuts, hazelnuts, hazelnuts
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/chocolate-hazelnut-cake-1895 (may not work)