Quinn’s birthday cake this year is a familiar theme: chocolate and hazelnut. That’s been the common factor of his birthday dessert for the last couple of years. I’m certainly not complaining because that is one of my favorite flavor combinations.
This year’s dessert comes from Perfect Cakes by one of my favorite cookbook authors, Nick Malgieri. If you’re not familiar with him, go immediately and check out some of his books.
Nick calls this cake Capriccio Alle Nocciole, but Hazelnut Cake works just fine for me. He describes it as a “buttery Swiss hazelnut cake.” With two sticks of butter and six ounces of hazelnuts in the recipe, that is certainly an apt description. There is some chocolate in this cake, but it is really all about the hazelnuts.
As much as I like hazelnuts, though, I felt that this cake was best served warm with a little chocolate syrup. Then again, I am a sucker for all things chocolate, so that shouldn’t come as a shock.
Quinn picked another winner this year with this cake. He certainly has had luck sticking with one of his preferred flavor combinations. Check back this time next year. I will probably be telling you about another chocolate and hazelnut dessert.
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April 26th, 2010 at 8:42 am
Mon Dieu! This looks amazing. Like Nutella in cake form. I must bake this very soon.
April 26th, 2010 at 8:56 am
Ooooo, that looks wonderful and I have that book!!! Yay, I must try it. Thanks for sharing.
April 26th, 2010 at 8:57 am
Aaah. I gave up Nutella two months ago, and have been very good at resisting anything that might spark a craving. But I think I’m going to have to make an exception for this cake.
Looks beautiful. Always great to see a post from you!
April 26th, 2010 at 10:34 am
This cake looks like a serious winner! There is nothing better than the chocolate/hazelnut combo. Quinn definitely knows what he is doing, choosing this recipe.
April 26th, 2010 at 10:36 am
Chocolate and hazelnut is a favorite combo of mine as well. What a delicious cake this is!
April 26th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
Wow this looks incredible!
April 26th, 2010 at 1:02 pm
I clipped this one…can’t wait to try it.
April 26th, 2010 at 1:28 pm
Como siempre, increibles los pasteles que nos traes. Ya se echaba de menos una receta. Un saludo
April 26th, 2010 at 8:51 pm
I’ve never been a fan of Hazelnut before, but this looks too yummy to pass up!
Thanks!!!
April 26th, 2010 at 8:55 pm
hazelnut sounds delicious!
April 27th, 2010 at 2:40 am
I always await Quinn’s birthday cakes, since the combination is a favorite of mine, as well as the boyfriend’s!! I earned a lot of brownie points through these cakes
April 27th, 2010 at 5:25 am
this looks and sounds amazing! My 2 oldest sons LOVE this combo…
thanks for the recipe
April 27th, 2010 at 5:52 am
I need to use hazelnut more often in baking! This sounds amazing.
April 27th, 2010 at 8:59 am
Do you think ground almonds (aka “almond meal”) could be subbed for the ground hazelnuts?
April 27th, 2010 at 9:33 am
T. Martin, I think that almonds would work. If you try it, let me know how you like it.
April 28th, 2010 at 5:18 am
Great recipe. I can’t wait to try it. Thank you very much for sharing!!!
April 28th, 2010 at 7:14 pm
I am so impressed with this cake! Even though hazelnuts and chocolate are the best combo ever, I have not seen many cakes like this! Your photo is also very beautiful.
April 29th, 2010 at 1:50 am
Cake is my favorite.I like all kinds of tastes.But I cannot make cake.
April 29th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
What a great combination. Looks so delish!
April 30th, 2010 at 5:47 am
Wow, this looks awesome together. Yum!
May 2nd, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Lovely, and reading the comments am tempted to try this with ground almonds.
May 5th, 2010 at 2:57 am
Mmmm drool, I cant believe how tasty this looks
its making me hungry hehe.
May 8th, 2010 at 10:58 pm
Cool! I love it!
This is perfect for desserts on “Mother’s Day”.
Can I add raisins on this cake recipe? or something like toppings?
May 9th, 2010 at 7:31 am
Jenny, I’m not a raisin fan, so I don’t have a lot of experience baking with them. Toppings are definitely good though. Just the chocolate sauce I used on it was fabulous.
May 10th, 2010 at 11:17 am
this looks delicious!! i love anything with hazelnut mmmm!
May 11th, 2010 at 6:58 pm
Love and not a big fan of hazelnut. By the way, I have made the Max Brenner fudge brownies numerous times and they have always gone over with a GIANT BANG!
I gave you a blog award on my site along with a link. Hope to send some new traffic your way!
http://tvfoodanddrink.com/2010/05/a-blog-award-for-tv-food-and-drink/
May 13th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
This looks delicious! I will definitely be trying it soon!
http://amusebouche-caitlin.blogspot.com/
May 29th, 2010 at 11:25 pm
Literally drooling on my keyboard!
Laura
http://culinarycravings.net/
June 3rd, 2010 at 4:40 pm
Oh yummy! I love hazelnut cake! Thanks for sharing this! Awesome pictures too!
June 11th, 2010 at 5:23 am
I never thought of pairing salt and chocolate until I tasted the salted caramel hot chocolate at Starbucks. Salted brownies may be next on my list to try. Thanks for posting this!
http://www.gourmetcookingonabudget.blogspot.com
June 11th, 2010 at 5:23 am
Oops, I clicked on the wrong recipe to comment on. This looks good too!
August 14th, 2010 at 8:09 am
One of my favorite cakes mmmmmmmm