Chocolate Hazelnut Meringue Cake Recipes

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT MERINGUE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325°F. Grease a 9-inch (24 cm) round spring form cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
• In a heatproof bowl, combine the chocolate and butter and place over a pot of boiling water, ensuring the bottom of the bowl isn't touching the water. We want to use the steam to gently melt the chocolate and butter. Stir occasionally until the mixture is melted then set aside and let cool slightly.
• In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add the eggs, 4 egg yolks, brown sugar, and vanilla and mix on medium-high speed for 3-4 minutes, until light and fluffy. Meanwhile, combine the flour, baking powder, and ground hazelnuts and mix well.
• Once the egg mixture is light and fluffy, add cooled melted chocolate mixture and gently fold to incorporate. Then add the flour mixture and gently fold until combined.
• Pour cake batter into prepared cake pan and bake for 30-35 minutes. Take the cake out of the oven and set aside while you make the chocolate meringue.
• Increase the oven temperature to 350°F. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk the egg whites on medium-low. Once the egg whites form soft peaks, gradually add the sugar in a slow and steady stream. Don't just dump it in! Add the vinegar and increase the speed to high and whisk for another 2-3 minutes until the meringue is thick and glossy.
• In the meantime, combine the cornstarch and cocoa powder and sift to remove any clumps.
• Once the meringue is thick and glossy, gently fold in the cornstarch and cocoa powder until combined. Spoon the meringue on top of the partially cooked cake.
• Bake for another 20-25 minutes or until the meringue is crisp and cooked.
• Let the cake cool in the pan for 15-20 minutes before running a knife around the edge of the cake and gently removing from the spring form pan. Allow the cake to cool and then refrigerate for 2 hours before serving. Dust with cocoa powder to serve.

HAZELNUT MERINGUE CAKE

Steps:

• For the meringue, heat the oven to 180°C/fan160°C/gas 4. Draw an 18cm circle on each of 4 sheets of baking paper, then use to line 4 lightly oiled baking sheets.
• Grind the nuts in a food processor with 1 tbsp of the caster sugar until finely ground with some texture - don't overgrind or it will become oily. (If you prefer, you can use a pestle and mortar or finely chop the nuts with a knife, then mix with the sugar.)
• Put the egg whites in a spotlessly clean mixing bowl and whisk with an electric hand mixer to stiff peaks (they shouldn't droop when the beaters are removed). Add the remaining caster sugar to the whites a tablespoon at a time, whisking back to stiff peaks each time. Once you've added half the sugar, start adding in larger quantities, whisking back to stiff peaks each time. Once all the sugar has been added, whisk in the vinegar to form stiff peaks, then fold through the hazelnuts with a metal spoon or balloon whisk.
• Spoon or pipe the meringues in circles onto the baking paper to give 3 flat circles and the fourth circle swirled a bit thicker (this will form the top layer). Bake for 40 minutes until the edges are crisp and set and the insides are still gooey.
• Take out to cool for 20 minutes on the trays, then transfer carefully to wire racks or boards to cool fully (see Make Ahead).
• For the PX sherry chocolate cream, put the chocolate, sherry and brown sugar in a large, heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) a pan of barely simmering water. Melt, stirring very occasionally, until smooth, then remove from the heat, stir in 150ml of the cream and leave to cool to just above room temperature. Whip the rest of the cream to soft peaks, then gently fold through the chocolate mixture with a balloon whisk, being careful not to overmix it or it will become grainy.
• Spoon the chocolate cream into a piping bag and snip off the end (see tips). Put one meringue on a serving platter and pipe a third of the cream on top. Repeat with the next layers, finishing with the thicker meringue.
• To decorate, melt the 50g chocolate and butter together (a microwave on low is fine), then cool a little. Drizzle all over the top, then scatter over the nuts. The cake is best filled as soon as you make the chocolate cream, to get a good shine (see make ahead).

CHOCOLATE-HAZELNUT MERINGUE LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease with shortening two 9-inch round cake pans. Line pan bottoms with cooking parchment paper; grease again, and sprinkle pans with flour.
• In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil and egg yolks with electric mixer on low speed until moistened. Scrape bowl; beat 2 minutes on medium speed. Spread batter evenly in pans.
• In another large bowl, beat egg whites with electric mixer on medium speed until foamy. Gradually add granulated sugar, beating on high speed until stiff peaks form. Fold in ground hazelnuts. Place spoonfuls of meringue on top of batter in each pan; carefully spread to cover batter to within 1/4 inch of sides of pans.
• Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on cooling racks 15 minutes. Carefully run knife around sides of pans to loosen cake and meringue. Remove from pans, and place meringue-side-up on cooling racks. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• For topping, using chilled large bowl and beaters, beat whipping cream using electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form. Add 1/4 cup of the hazelnut spread and the powdered sugar; beat until stiff peaks form.
• To assemble cake, place cake layer on serving plate or cake stand, meringue-side-up. Place remaining 1/3 cup hazelnut spread in small microwavable bowl. Microwave uncovered on High 15 to 30 seconds or just until softened. Carefully spread softened hazelnut spread over meringue layer. Top with remaining cake layer, meringue-side-up. Top with dollops of whipped cream mixture, spreading slightly to cover top of cake. Garnish top with candies. Refrigerate until ready to serve.