Baking List, pt. VII : Toasted Hazelnut Cake

• March
• 26

6:39 pm Baking List, Just Dessert

I wanted to eat this cake.
Just look at that shiny, yummy chocolate coating.
My husband would like that coating only, I know…

• 1 1/2 cups hazelnuts (8 oz), toasted
• 1/4 cup matzo cake meal
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 large eggs, separated, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon finely grated fresh lemon zest
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Warm sweet chocolate glaze

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. and grease a 9-inch springform pan.
2. Rub hot toasted nuts in a kitchen towel to remove some of skins, then cool completely.

Make cake:

1. Pulse nuts, cake meal, and 1/4 cup sugar in a food processor until nuts are very finely chopped, being careful not to process to a paste. 3Beat yolks and 1/2 cup sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until pale and very thick. Stir in zest.
2. Beat whites with salt in another bowl with cleaned beaters on high speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in remaining 1/4 cup sugar and beat until whites just hold stiff, glossy peaks.
3. In 3 batches, alternately fold nut mixture and whites into yolk mixture.
4. Spoon batter into pan and smooth top.
5. Bake cake in middle of oven until golden and a tester comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool in pan on a rack 3 minutes, then loosen edge with a knife and remove side of pan. Cool completely. (Cake will sink slightly in center.)

Glaze cake:

Invert cake onto a rack set over a shallow baking pan. Carefully loosen bottom of pan and remove. Pour warm glaze over cake, allowing it to drip down sides, and spread to coat evenly. Chill until glaze is set, about 5 minutes.
Cooks’ note:
• Cake keeps, covered and chilled, 1 day. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Sweet chocolate glaze
Ingredients

• 3 oz semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 3 tablespoons orange juice or water
• 3 tablespoons unsalted margarine or (if not keeping glaze pareve) butter
• 3 tablespoons sugar

Method
Cook all ingredients in a small heavy saucepan over low heat, whisking until smooth. Cool 5 minutes and then pour warm glaze over cake.