It's World Nutella Day! Five years ago Michelle from Bleeding Espresso and Sara from Ms. Adventures in Italy declared February 5th as World Nutella Day, the official day to celebrate their and the world's love for Nutella. The love has spread and this celebration has certainly taken off. There are almost 19,000 fans of World Nutella Day on Facebook. Last year I joined in the love, sharing my first taste of Nutella (in Florence) with you and my recipe for Gianduja - Nutella Cheesecake.
On Monday, February 7, 2011, Sara and Michelle will post links to ALL the recipes of those that created something and posted it on their blogs for World Nutella Day. I'm guessing there are going to be a lot of recipes! In the meantime, you can check out the Nutella Day Flickr Pool for photos of what's being created and eaten and to see how others are celebrating Nutella today.
This year, I thought I'd share the Nutella love with individual cakes shaped in the form of a heart. The cake is a flourless chocolate and hazelnut cake. There are two fillings; one a nutella ganache with chopped hazelnuts and on top of that is a whipped milk chocolate ganache. Then the entire cake is slathered in Nutella ganache and finished with a garnish of roasted hazelnuts. I had a very handy heart shapped cutter and made individual cakes, perfect for romantic Valentine's Day dinners for two or a big party, might I suggest a Nutella love fest. And this cake is also gluten free.
While making this cake, scents of chocolate and roasted hazelnuts mingled together and filled the house. I had a flashback to a day when I was in Alba, Italy. We were there to check out the market and then take a bus to Barolo and sip some wine. That same seductive scent filled the entire city. At the time we didn't know that the Ferrero plant, the makers of Nutella, was located in Alba. We kept guessing what was being made and tried to follow the scent. We wanted some of whatever that sweet aroma was. We asked a guy at the osteria where we were eating. He told us about the Ferrero plant. All day I had been smelling the scents of Nutella being made. No wonder I had been in such a good mood.
Below I've given the recipe for making the individual cakes, using a heart shaped cookie cutter. The recipe will work if you'd also like to make one large 9-inch round cake. Instead of baking the flourless cake on a sheet pan, divide the cake batter into two 9-inch spring form pans. Follow the same assembly instructions, instead making only one cake. Enjoy and Happy World Nutella Day! Thanks again Michelle and Sara for sharing and continuing the Nutella love!
Nutella Love Cake
(makes about 10 individual heart cakes or one 9-inch round cake)
For the Flourless Chocolate and Hazelnut Cake:
9 ounces good quality dark chocolate, chopped into small pieces
1 cup butter
¼ cup cocoa powder
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 ¼ cup granulated sugar
1 cup finely ground blanched and toasted hazelnuts
6 eggs, room temperature
Preheat an oven to 310°F and line the bottom of a 15x7 jelly roll pan with parchment paper.
Slowly melt the chocolate and butter over a double-boiler. In a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, whisk together the melted chocolate mixture, the cocoa powder, vanilla extract and sugar until combined. Add the ground hazelnuts and whisk until combined. Add the eggs one at a time, adding each egg after the first has been incorporated into the mixture. Pour the mixture into the spring form pan. Make sure the mixture is level and smooth on top. Bake for about 15-20 minutes. It is ready when you place a toothpick in the center and only a few moist crumbs attach to the toothpick.
For the Whipped Milk Chocolate Ganache:
1 cup heavy cream
10 ounces good quality milk chocolate, finely chopped
Scald the cream. Pour over the milk chocolate and let it sit for about 2 minutes. Starting from the center of the bowl, slowly whisk the mixture until it comes together. Pour into a 9x13-inch glass dish and refrigerate until it is chilled, 15 to 20 minutes.
Remove from the refrigerator. In a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, whip to soft peaks. Set aside until assembling the cake.
For the Nutella Ganache:
1 jar (13 oz) Nutella
3/4 cup heavy cream
2 1/3 cups blanched and toasted hazelnuts, finely chopped
In a saucepan over medium heat, heat the nutella and cream until they are combined. Pour 3/4 cup of the ganache in a bowl and combine it with 1/3 cup of the chopped hazelnuts. Set aside both mixtures until you're ready to assemble the cake. The remaining 2 cups of hazelnuts will be used for the garnish.
For the Simple Syrup:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
Pour the sugar and water into a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Remove from the heat, cool and refrigerate until ready to use. It should be cold before using.
To Assemble the Cake:
Cut out the heart forms for the individual cakes. With a pastry brush, dab simple syrup onto the bottom layer of each cake, enough so that it soaks through. Place about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the Nutella ganache with the hazelnuts onto each bottom layer of cake and spread it in an even layer out almost to the edge. Using a piping bag with a round tip, pipe a layer of whipped ganache, about 3/8-inch in height on top of the Nutella ganache, covering the entire area of the heart. Place the second layer of cake on top of the whipped ganache layer. With a pastry brush, dab simple syrup onto the top layer of each cake until it has soaked through. Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to chill.
Place a baking rack over a sheet pan. This is for icing the cake. Once the cakes have chilled, remove them from the refrigerator and place them onto the rack. Pour the Nutella ganache, the mixture that does not have nuts in it, over each cake to ice it completely. If you need to, you can recuperate the icing in the sheet pan and do a second glazing. Chill for about 10 minutes in the refrigerator. Coat the sides with the chopped hazelnuts and serve.
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How are you celebrating World Nutella Day? What's you're favorite way to eat Nutella?
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**The World Nutella Day Image is provided with permission by World Nutella Day. All other photos, the recipe and all content are mine and may not be copied or reproduced without my permission.
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Torta Setteveli - Seven Veils Cake from Palermo
Eurochocolate Perugia - Italy's Biggest Chocolate Festival
Chocolate Eclairs: My Mom and Learning to Make Them
History of Chocolate in Turin - Gianduja and Much More
Scenes from CioccolaTo - Chocolate Festival in Turin
Italian Hot Chocolate at Carnevale in Venice
Italy in Chocolate at Turin's CioccolaTo Festival
Seven Sensational Gelaterie in Turin - After 100 Scoops
Torta Caprese - Flourless Chocolate Almond Cake from Capri
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Meanie! How can you put this photo up with giving me any? It's wonderful way to celebrate Nutella!
Posted by: Belinda @zomppa | February 05, 2011 at 03:08 PM
Wow, beautiful cake.
Posted by: Felice - All That's Left Are The Crumbs | February 05, 2011 at 04:23 PM
I wish I was eating one of these right now!! Man that cake looks so rich and decadent
Posted by: steph@stephsbitebybite | February 05, 2011 at 04:44 PM
It looks so pretty and just in time for Valentine's Day for folks who celebrate.
Posted by: The Chocolate Priestess | February 05, 2011 at 04:48 PM
Oh, my, this looks AMAZING! Unlike anything I have ever had! I will definitely bookmark this!thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Lynn | February 05, 2011 at 07:01 PM
I'm speechless! And my favorite way to eat Nutella is STRAIGHT.UP! out of the jar! :D
Posted by: Tiffany | February 06, 2011 at 12:29 PM
oh wow! this looks dangerously good!
Posted by: Simply Life | February 06, 2011 at 02:11 PM
What a beautiful looking cake. I so love Nutella.
Posted by: Esme | February 06, 2011 at 08:45 PM
To die for!! Oh, it looks so beautiful...I am so inspired to make this...especially with Valentines Day just around the corner! Think I might just make a certain someone very, very happy.... merci Kathy!
Posted by: Tuula | February 07, 2011 at 03:32 AM
I think one bit of that and you'd have to fall in love! I did nothing for world nutella day, except swelter in 42C heat...
Posted by: Corinne @ Degustinations | February 07, 2011 at 09:38 PM
This DOES look good ... I think I'll try making it with CHOCOLATE!! :-)
Posted by: Paula | February 08, 2011 at 11:10 AM
Thanks everyone for the sweet comments. Happy to share a little Nutella love.
Posted by: Kathy | February 16, 2011 at 01:58 PM