Saturday, December 24, 2011

A Chocolate Christmas gift for you…

While the chocolate hazelnut Nutella


cake is cooling


nutella cake2





And our traditional Christmas Eve fondue Bourguignon is awaiting…with umpteen delectable sauces



I thought I would gift you with the most wonderful recipe.


It truly tastes like it is from a European Bakery


Fine chocolate, cognac, hazelnuts…




D I V I N E



IMG_1141





IMG_1149





nutellacake



Nutella Cake with Chocolate Hazelnut Ganache
Adapted from Nigella Lawson


Cake:
6 large eggs, separated
pinch salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 13-ounce container Nutella
1 tablespoon cognac or brandy





1/2 cup finely ground hazelnuts
4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, melted and
cooled





Ganache:
4 ounces whole hazelnuts
1/2 cup heavy cream



1 tablespoon cognac



4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate





Preheat oven to 350 degrees; butter a 9-inch springform pan. In a large bowl (preferably metal),
whisk the egg whites and salt until stiff. In another bowl, cream the butter and Nutella, then add
the cognac, egg yolks, and ground hazelnuts. Fold in melted chocolate.





Add a blob of beaten egg whites to the chocolate batter, and mix gently until well-combined. Fold in the remaining whites, one-third at a time, very gently but thoroughly. Pour into springform and bake for 40 minutes. Test for doneness by inserting tester, which should come out mostly clean; lightly pressing finger into top to check for a slight bouncing-back; and observing edges beginning to separate from pan. Let cool completely, in pan, on a rack.





Toast the hazelnuts in a dry skillet, or toaster oven shaking them around frequently. Do it for about 4 minutes, or until they are lightly browned, then let cool completely. If hazelnuts came with skins on, put them in a towel after toasting and rub around; this will remove most of the skins.





Chop chocolate, and add to sauce pan with half and half and booze over medium-low heat. Once chocolate is melted and components are combined, whisk until mixture reaches desired thickness, then cool. Remove rim of cake pan and pour cooled ganache over, spreading lightly to create a smooth, shiny surface, and apply hazelnuts all over.


Rich and heavenly…what Christmas is all about!



nutella1



To all of my blog readers and friends.May your


Christmas or Hanukkah include some chocolate


and LOTS of LOVE.


Love Me.













Last two images from google…mine is not ready to pour the ganache on yet...slurp.

19 comments:

Viera said...

Dear Linda
Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones
XXX
V

Sally Tharpe Rowles said...

Wow how gorgeous & I know it is delicious too!
Love your beautiful tree & colorful stockings .....what a beautiful festive room!! Merry Christmas!!

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Thanks for the recipe!
Wishing you a very Happy Christmas!

Renae Moore said...

WOWSERS...oh yummy!
We have fondue traditionally on Christmas eve too!
I'm curious about the bourginon style though!
Merry merry Christmas Linda!
xx

Catherine said...

Looks so very delicious! I am eating lots of chocolate - even brought home my first jar of Nutella the other day. I can't wait to try it, especially now. Merry Christmas xoTrina

erin's art and gardens said...

merry, merry Christmas to you and yours!
thanks for the fab recipe...yum-mee!
erin
xxoo

Karen Deborah said...

yummy I'm drooling over this description. The palate knows.
Merry Christmas to you!

Desire Empire said...

That cake looks superb.
Merry Christmas
I'm giving away a fabulous coastal style interiors book over the holidays.

If you have time I'd love you to join in.
Carolyn xx

Lisa said...

Happy Holidays and a Belated Merry Christmas, Linda!

Gwen Driscoll said...

This looks so yummy! Thanks for sharing your recipe.

Always love your visits to RHS. Come back very soon. Happy New Year!

Red River Interiors,LLC said...

This looks yummy... have to try it soon. Love your blog too... Fay

Janelle McCulloch said...

That looks fantastic! It looks like the perfect after-dinner treat - although you'd probably want a small salad so you could fit this luscious dessert in! Such a gorgeous recipe. Do hope you post more in 2012.
Janelle McCulloch | Library of Design

Renée Finberg said...

this looks too yummy for words!!!

happy new year!!!

xxx

rjerdee said...

Lotsa love back to you, Linda! Think the chocolate cake will work for New Year's Eve? I missed it for Christmas...

Cobalt Violet said...

Oh God, now I need Chocolate.

Happy New Year Linda!!!

Unknown said...

Hope you had a Merry Christmas, Linda. What a delicious looking cake! Okay, now I'm craving chocolate.

Ivy Lane said...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours Linda!

likeschocolate said...

Now I am hungry-dang it! So yummy!

likeschocolate said...

Now I am hungry-dang it! So yummy!

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