Chocolate Hazelnut Cake

My dad and step-mom have both of their birthdays and their wedding anniversary within a 10 day period. It’s a lot of great things to celebrate and we usually do it all at once! We had a festive family dinner at their house last night and I was in charge of the meal. What was great was that my dad was in the kitchen with me and we cooked it together. We made my apple gruyere stuffed mushrooms for an appetizer and my chili lime shrimp pesto pasta as our main course. I had a decadent surprise up my sleeve for dessert though with this chocolate hazelnut cake! My dad’s favorite sweet treat in the world is anything chocolate hazelnut, so it was a no brainer.

The batter for the chocolate hazelnut cake was so luscious! The key though was to keep it from becoming cloying by using red wine in the batter. It also enhanced the chocolate so gloriously!
The batter for the chocolate hazelnut cake was so luscious! The key though was to keep it from becoming cloying by using red wine in the batter. It also enhanced the chocolate so gloriously!
I made sure to line my cake pans with parchment paper and spray them well with cooking spray. It would have been heartbreaking in the worst way if the cakes didn't release from the pans!
I made sure to line my cake pans with parchment paper and spray them well with cooking spray. It would have been heartbreaking in the worst way if the cakes didn’t release from the pans! I divided that luscious batter for the chocolate hazelnut cake between two pans so that I would get two fluffy layers.
While the chocolate hazelnut cake layers baked and cooled, I made the simple buttercream frosting. All it took was butter, chocolate hazelnut spread and powdered sugar whipped together!
While the chocolate hazelnut cake layers baked and cooled, I made the simple buttercream frosting. All it took was butter, chocolate hazelnut spread and powdered sugar whipped together! Those three easy ingredients really made a fluffy, special frosting.
The cake and frosting were so decadent that I thought frosting the whole thing would be too much. I only spread frosting between the two layers and on top.
The cake and frosting were so decadent that I thought frosting the whole thing would be too much. I only spread frosting between the two layers and on top.

The final touch was to decorate the cake with my dad’s favorite chocolate hazelnut chocolates in the world. They looked so pretty on the chocolate hazelnut cake! It was such an amazing, sweet end to a really fun family get together. My dad and step-mom are two incredibly important, wonderful people in my life. I loved celebrating their birthdays and the day they got married. xoxo

Chocolate Hazelnut Cake
Chocolate Hazelnut Cake
5 from 2 votes
Chocolate Hazelnut Cake
Chocolate Hazelnut Cake
Prep Time
40 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
1 hr 10 mins
 

This chocolate hazelnut cake is rich and decadent without being too sweet. Red wine gives it an amazing depth of flavor!

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Cake, Chocolate Hazelnut Cake
Servings: 1 cake
Calories: 620 kcal
Author: Jeanie and Lulu's Kitchen
Ingredients
FOR THE CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT CAKE
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 2 sticks butter softened to room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup chocolate hazelnut spread
  • 2 whole eggs
  • 2 whole egg yolks
  • 1/2 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup red wine divided
FOR THE CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT BUTTERCREAM
  • 2 sticks butter softened to room temperature
  • 1 cup chocolate hazelnut spread
  • 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 9 whole Ferrero Rocher candies for decorating the top.
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat the oven to 350 and line two 9 inch round cake pans with parchment paper. Spray the pans liberally with cooking spray. Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt together in a bowl to aerate the dry ingredients. Set up a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. In its bowl combine the butter and sugar. Beat them together until fluffy and creamy. Add the chocolate hazelnut spread next and let it get fully incorporated. Pour in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vinegar and vanilla extract.
  2. Turn the speed to low and slowly add about 1/3 of the dry ingredients, followed by half of the wine. Then the next 1/3 of the dry ingredients goes in followed by the last of the wine. Finish the batter with the remaining dry ingredients just until they are incorporated to make the luscious batter. Evenly divide the batter among the two prepared cake pans and bake the two layers for about 30 minutes. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out cleanly. When they are done, take them out and let them cool for at least 20-30 minutes before turning them out onto plates or a large board to finish cooling for another 15 minutes or so.
  3. While the cake layers bake and cool, prepare the frosting. Wash out the stand mixer bowl and paddle first since you'll need it. Then combine the butter and chocolate hazelnut spread in the bowl and beat them together thoroughly until smooth. Then slowly add in the powdered sugar until it becomes a fluffy, luscious frosting.
  4. Take the first cooled cake layer and transfer it to a cake stand with the flat side down. Spread half of the frosting on top of that layer, then place the second layer on top of it with the flat side up. Spread the rest of the frosting in a smooth layer on top. Decorate the cake with a ring of eight Ferrero Rocher candies around the edge and one in the middle. Slice and serve for a decadent dessert!
Nutrition Facts
Chocolate Hazelnut Cake
Amount Per Serving (1 g)
Calories 620 Calories from Fat 337
% Daily Value*
Fat 37.4g58%
Saturated Fat 18.8g118%
Cholesterol 109mg36%
Sodium 242mg11%
Potassium 89mg3%
Carbohydrates 68.9g23%
Fiber 2.3g10%
Sugar 62.6g70%
Protein 4.6g9%
Calcium 3mg0%
Iron 5mg28%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Chocolate Hazelnut Cake
Chocolate Hazelnut Cake

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