How to make Italian hazelnut and chocolate cake

The Italian hazelnut and chocolate cake. This is a wonderful Italian “flourless” torte that combines the taste of hazelnuts and bittersweet chocolate to perfection.

SERVING: Makes 1 (10-inch by 2-inch) cake.

INGREDIENTS:

• 8 ounces hazelnuts, roasted and peeled
• 1/2 cup supefine sugar
• 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate
• 8 eggs, separated
• Cocoa powder and confectioners’ sugar or melted chocolate, for decoration

METHOD:

1. Butter a round 10×2-inch cake pan (a 10-inch springform pan may be used). Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 C).
2. In a food processor, pulse the nuts until coarsely chopped. Set aside. Process the chocolate until coarsely chopped. Add to the chopped nuts.
3. In a mixing bowl, combine the egg yolks and 1/4 cup sugar. Beat until light and ribbony.
4. In another mixing bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Slowly add the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar and continue to beat until stiff peaks form.
5. Fold the nuts and chocolate into the egg yolk mixture. Carefully fold the beaten egg whites into the yolk mixture. Fill the prepared cake pan 2/3 full. Bake for 20 minutes or until center is springy. Remove from the oven and cool on a baking rack.
6. Invert cake onto serving plate, or if using a springform pan release sides of pan and transfer cake to serving plate. Dust cake with cocoa powder and/or confectioners’ sugar or decorate with melted chocolate.
7. Your hazelnut and chocolate cake can now be served.

TIP:

If desired, use a cake stencil to make an attractive design on top of torte with cocoa and/or confectioners’ sugar.