Description
This decadent Chocolate Hazelnut Cake with Nutella Frosting is a moist and rich dessert perfect for any chocolate lover. With a blend of cocoa, chopped hazelnuts, and creamy Nutella frosting, it offers a delightful nutty and chocolaty flavor combination. Easy to make and impressive to serve, this cake is ideal for celebrations or a special treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake:
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 cup hazelnuts, chopped
Frosting:
- 2 cups Nutella
Instructions
- Prepare the pans: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans to prevent sticking.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined.
- Add wet ingredients: Add eggs, whole milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract to the dry mixture. Mix thoroughly until the batter is smooth and evenly combined.
- Incorporate boiling water: Carefully stir in the boiling water. The batter will become thin, which is normal and helps achieve a moist cake texture.
- Fold in hazelnuts: Gently fold the chopped hazelnuts into the batter to evenly distribute the nuts throughout.
- Fill pans: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared cake pans, making sure the layers are balanced for even baking.
- Bake the cakes: Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick in the center; it should come out clean.
- Cool the cakes: Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer them to wire racks to cool completely before frosting.
- Frost the cake: Once the cakes are thoroughly cooled, spread Nutella evenly between the two layers and coat the top with the remaining frosting.
- Optional decoration: Decorate the cake with additional chopped hazelnuts on top for an elegant finish and extra crunch.
Notes
- Make sure the cakes are completely cool before frosting to prevent Nutella from melting.
- Using boiling water in the batter intensifies the chocolate flavor and keeps the cake moist.
- You can toast the hazelnuts lightly before chopping to enhance their flavor.
- If you want a less sweet frosting, try mixing Nutella with some cream cheese or whipped cream.
- Store leftover cake covered at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to a week.
