Description
Delightful egyptian hazelnut cake brings Middle Eastern charm straight to your dessert table with nutty, sweet layers that dance between tradition and comfort. Rich ground hazelnuts and delicate spices blend into a cake that whispers stories of Cairo’s sweet bakeries.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup toasted hazelnuts
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Leavening and Seasoning:
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
Wet Ingredients and Toppings:
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup whole milk
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ¼ cup milk or cream
- ¼ cup chopped hazelnuts
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350°F and spread hazelnuts on a baking sheet. Toast them for 10 minutes until their aroma fills your kitchen, then let them cool and chop roughly.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cardamom together in a medium bowl, creating a light, fragrant dry mixture.
- Cream ½ cup butter with 1 cup sugar until the mixture becomes fluffy and pale. Add 2 eggs one at a time, blending thoroughly after each, then stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
- Fold the dry ingredients into your butter mixture, alternating with ½ cup whole milk. Mix gently until everything is just incorporated, then fold in most of the chopped hazelnuts.
- Transfer the batter to a greased 9×9-inch pan, spreading it evenly with a spatula.
- Bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick – it should come out clean when the cake is ready.
- Let the cake cool completely on a wire rack for about 45 minutes before frosting.
- Beat ½ cup softened butter until creamy, then gradually mix in 1 cup powdered sugar and ¼ cup cocoa powder.
- Add ¼ cup milk to the frosting, stirring until you reach a smooth, spreadable consistency.
- Spread the chocolate frosting across the cooled cake’s surface, creating an even layer.
- Sprinkle the remaining chopped hazelnuts on top as a crunchy, decorative garnish.
Notes
- Toasting hazelnuts brings out their rich, nutty flavor and adds a delightful crunch to the cake’s texture.
- Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature to help them blend smoothly and create a more consistent batter.
- For a gluten-free version, swap all-purpose flour with a good quality gluten-free flour blend that includes xanthan gum.
- When mixing the batter, stop stirring as soon as ingredients are combined to prevent a tough cake texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Cakes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Egyptian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 313 kcal
- Sugar: 32 g
- Sodium: 195 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 62 mg