Whether it’s shared between friends, family or lovers, this cake is a celebration of life’s most precious moments. So preheat your oven and let the allure of chocolate and hazelnuts fill your senses. The Baci Chocolate Birthday Cake is not just a dessert, it’s a symbol of love, created to create memories that will last long after the last crumb has disappeared.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 – 3/4 cup finely chopped hazelnuts (optional)
- 1/4 cup Nutella
- 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour (or 2 cups cake/pastry flour and no cornstarch)
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa (Dutch processed)
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 Baci Perugina chocolates
- 1 cup homemade buttermilk (room temperature)
- 1 1/2 cups heavy or double cream
- 1 cup mascarpone
- 2 large eggs (room temperature)
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup warm water
Method:
Preheat your oven and prepare your cake tins.
Sift together the flour, cornstarch, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, warm water, oil and vanilla extract.
Mix the wet and dry ingredients together until smooth.
Pour the mixture into the tins and bake until a toothpick comes out clean.
For the icing, whip the cream and mascarpone with the Nutella until fluffy.
When cooled, assemble the cake with the icing between layers and on top.
Decorate with Baci chocolates and hazelnuts (optional).
