Deeply decadent, this cake combines a chocolate cake base with a mousse-like hazelnut and chocolate filling, topped with a layer of chocolate ganache. Hazelnuts mingle with caramel to create a perfectly salty, crunchy Hazelnut Praline.
Chocolate Hazelnut Praline Cake
Makes 1 (6-inch) cake
Ingredients
Cake:
- ½ cup (43 grams) Dutch process cocoa powder
- ½ cup (120 grams) hot coffee (140°F/60°C to 160°F/71°C)
- 1 1/3 cups (267 grams) granulated sugar
- ¾ cup (168 grams) neutral oil
- 2/3 cup (160 grams) sour cream, room temperature
- 2 large eggs (100 grams), room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1½ cups (188 grams) all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons (10 grams) baking powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Filling:
- 1 ounce (28 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons (30 grams) hazelnut chocolate spread*
- 1 tablespoon (7 grams) confectioners’ sugar
- ½ cup (120 grams) cold heavy whipping cream
Garnish:
- Chocolate Ganache Icing (recipe follows)
- Hazelnut Praline (recipe follows)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F (170°C). Spray 2 (6-inch) round cake pans with baking spray with flour. Line bottom of pans with parchment paper.
- For cake: In a medium bowl, whisk together cocoa and hot coffee until smooth and well combined. Whisk in granulated sugar, oil, sour cream, eggs, and vanilla until smooth and combined.
- In another medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add flour mixture to cocoa mixture, whisking just until combined and no dry streaks remain. Divide batter between prepared pans (about 2 cups or 520 grams each).
- Bake until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs and an instant-read thermometer inserted in center registers 200°F (93°C) to 205°F (96°C), 50 to 55 minutes. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove from pans, and let cool completely on a wire rack.
- For filling: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat cream cheese, hazelnut chocolate spread, and confectioners’ sugar at low speed until smooth and combined. With mixer on low speed, add cold cream in a slow, steady stream; thoroughly scrape bowl. Beat at medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Level cooled cake layers, if desired. Place 1 cake layer on a cake board or serving platter. Spread filling onto cake layer, and top with remaining cake layer. Spread a thin layer of Chocolate Ganache Icing on top and sides of cake, getting icing as smooth as you can. Refrigerate until icing is set, about 15 minutes.
- Spread remaining Chocolate Ganache Icing on top and sides of cake as desired. Refrigerate cake for 30 minutes before serving. If refrigerating for longer than 1 hour, let stand at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes before serving. Before serving, garnish with Hazelnut Praline, if desired. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Notes
*We used Bonne Maman® Hazelnut Chocolate Spread.
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Chocolate Ganache Icing
Makes about 2 cups
Ingredients
- 6 ounces (170 grams) 60% cacao semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
- 6 ounces (170 grams) milk chocolate, coarsely chopped
- ¼ cup (57 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1¼ cups (300 grams) heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine chocolates, butter, and salt.
- In a medium saucepan, heat cream over medium-low heat until it just begins to steam. (Do not boil.) Pour warm cream over chocolate mixture, and let stand for 3 to 5 minutes. Starting at center of bowl, slowly stir in small circles with a rubber spatula until well combined. (This ensures you are not incorporating too much air into the ganache.) Let stand at room temperature until thick and spreadable, 1½ to 2 hours.
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Hazelnut Praline
Makes about 1 cup
Ingredients
- 1¼ cups (250 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (140 grams) blanched hazelnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
- In a small saucepan, heat about ¼ cup (50 grams) sugar over medium heat, stirring frequently, until sugar is melted. Gradually add remaining sugar, about ¼ cup (50 grams) at a time, stirring between each addition until completely melted. Cook until sugar is a deep amber color, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in hazelnuts and salt. Immediately pour onto prepared pan, quickly spreading into an even layer. Let stand at room temperature until completely hard and set, at least 2 hours. Break into pieces as desired, and store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
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