Hazelnut, Chocolate and Orange Cake
’The chocolate, hazelnut and orange cake was amazing- the best cake I have ever made.’ Ruth, November 2023.
This is a beautifully moist cake with a range of textures and a wonderful flavour combination of chocolate, hazelnuts and orange. It is a sponge cake recipe that is based on ground hazelnuts and a soaking syrup. The cake includes additional elements of a hazelnut praline French buttercream, a chocolate hazelnut rocher coating and candied orange zest décor. Whether you chose to enjoy the cake as a simple sponge or with all its elements, it is a cake that is perfectly suited for entertaining or simply with a cup of tea.
Difficulty: Please see below regarding the elements involved. There are multiple elements so, although not technically difficult, it is a more involved process if you choose to make everything. For this reason, we suggest that it is more suited to confident home bakers and professional kitchens. No specialist equipment or ingredients are required except for hazelnut praline paste that is required for the French buttercream. This only tends to be available from specialist retailers. Although we use a stand mixer in the method, the cake can be made with a hand whisk just as effectively. The recipe is baked in a loaf tin (20cm x 11.5cm x 17cm) or a round cake tin (20cm / 8 inches) or as 10 small individual cakes (of approximately 90g) each baked in silicone moulds, cupcake tins or individual cake tins.
PDF includes: 7 simple steps to help with every recipe, photographs, ingredients for each element, detailed step by step method for each element (including how to check the sponge cake is ready), guidance on storage, notes on the ingredients.
Elements: This cake can be enjoyed in a variety of forms. For example, the cake can be enjoyed as a simple sponge with the soaking syrup, or you can make the sponge cake and coat it in the chocolate hazelnut rocher without the buttercream, or make the cake with the buttercream as décor without the chocolate hazelnut coating. In each case you can chose whether to add the candied orange zest décor. If you are making the full recipe to enjoy the cake in all its glory, then it is a more involved recipe as there are multiple elements (the sponge cake and soaking syrup, a hazelnut praline French buttercream, a chocolate hazelnut rocher coating and candied orange zest).
If you like the look of this recipe you may also enjoy our Almond, Lemon and Blueberry Travel Cake.
N.B. Once you place an order you will receive a secure link to the ebook or recipe PDF lasting 24 hours after the first download. Once you download the PDF save it to your computer and it’s yours to keep.