Hazelnut Cake
Ingredients
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- 8 ounces hazelnut – toasted and skinned
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter – softened (for greasing pan)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 large egg – separated into yolks and whites
- 1 tsp lemon zest – finely grated
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter – melted and cooled slightly
- 1/4 tsp fine salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 tbsp powdered sugar – for dusting
- whipped cream – lightly sweetened, softly whipped (for serving)
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Spread the hazelnuts on a baking sheet and toast until fragrant and skins split, 10–12 minutes. Rub warm nuts in a clean towel to remove most skins, then let cool 5 minutes.
2. Grease a 9-inch (23 cm) springform pan with the softened butter and line the base with parchment paper.
3. Pulse the cooled hazelnuts in a food processor with 2 tbsp of the granulated sugar until very finely ground, stopping before they turn pasty, 20–30 seconds total.
4. Melt the 6 tbsp unsalted butter and let cool slightly. In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks with half of the remaining sugar until pale and thick, 2–3 minutes. Whisk in the melted butter and lemon zest.
5. In a separate clean bowl, beat the egg whites with the fine salt to soft peaks. Gradually sprinkle in the remaining sugar and continue beating to glossy medium peaks, 2–3 minutes.
6. Fold the ground hazelnuts and baking powder into the yolk mixture until evenly combined; the batter will be thick.
7. Fold in one-third of the beaten egg whites to loosen the batter, then gently fold in the remaining whites just until no white streaks remain.
8. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake until risen, golden, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs, 30–35 minutes.
9. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then release the ring and cool completely on a wire rack, 45–60 minutes.
10. Dust with powdered sugar. Slice and serve plain or with whipped cream.
Hazelnut cake is a tender, aromatic dessert with a finely nubbly crumb and a deep, toasted-nut flavor. Lightly sweet and incredibly moist, it balances richness with the bright lift of citrus zest and the gentle warmth of oven-roasted hazelnuts. The cake bakes up with a delicate crust and a soft, sliceable interior that pairs beautifully with a simple dusting of sugar or a spoonful of softly whipped cream.
Rooted in northern Italy—especially the Langhe hills of Piedmont—this style of hazelnut cake celebrates the prized local Tonda Gentile hazelnuts. Traditionally, the cake relies on eggs for lift rather than lots of flour, reflecting farmhouse baking where nuts were abundant and wheat could be scarce. Over time, it has become a regional emblem, often served plain, with zabaione, or lightly sweetened cream, letting the nuts remain the star.