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 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
This chocolate hazelnut cake is rich and decadent without being too sweet. Red wine gives it an amazing depth of flavor!
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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!
Oh my, Girl, can I have slice like right now?!? It looks like something straight out of my dreams
Haha, next time I make it I’ll mail you a slice. Thanks very much!!
This looks delicious, chocolate and hazelnut are a match made in heaven
It really is!! Thanks so much!
This looks so delectable. I know my husband would soon if I made this for him.
My husband sure did, I bet yours will too :-). Thanks very much, Marta!!
I think it’s really smart to just frost in between the layers and on top to help limit the richness!
Thanks very much!!