Hazelnut, Mascarpone and Chocolate Cake

The hazelnut cake with mascarpone and chocolate is a decadent dessert that combines the richness of chocolate with the smoothness of mascarpone and the crunchiness of hazelnuts. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

• 200 g of toasted and finely chopped hazelnuts
• 150 g of sugar
• 100 g of soft butter
• 4 medium eggs
• 200 g of dark chocolate
• 250 g of mascarpone
• 50 g of flour
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1 sachet of baking powder
• Cocoa powder for dusting (optional)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C (350 °F).
2. In a bowl, cream the soft butter with the sugar until you have a fluffy mixture.
3. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
4. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave and let it cool slightly.
5. Add the melted chocolate to the mixture of butter, sugar, and eggs, mixing well.
6. Fold in the chopped hazelnuts, mascarpone, flour, pinch of salt, and sifted baking powder, blending everything together to obtain a homogenous mixture.
7. Pour the batter into a buttered and floured cake tin about 24 cm in diameter.
8. Bake for about 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
9. Let the cake cool down in the turned-off oven with the door open for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
10. Once cool, you may dust with cocoa powder for a decorative touch.

Curiosity

The hazelnut cake is a classic of Piedmontese pastry, and the addition of mascarpone and chocolate makes it an even more creamy and indulgent variant. This dessert is perfect for the end of a meal or for an elegant snack.

Once you have prepared this cake, you can accompany the slices with a glass of sweet wine, such as Passito di Pantelleria or Moscato d’Asti, which pair particularly well with the flavors of hazelnut and chocolate.