Chocolate hazelnut torte

Preperation time: 1 hour
Cooking time: 35 mins
Serves: 8

Recipe Ingredients

150g butter;
400g dark chocolate (70%), chopped;
6 large eggs, separated;
150g soft brown sugar;
2 tbsp plain flour;
100g ground hazelnuts;
150ml double cream;
150g caster sugar;
200g roasted hazelnuts.

Recipe Method

Melt the butter and add half of the chopped chocolate, stirring until it melts in the butter. Set aside to cool.

Whisk the egg whites to the soft peak stage.

In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the brown sugar until thick and pale. Add the chocolate mixture to the egg yolks, then the flour and ground hazelnuts. Gently fold in the egg whites.

Spoon the mixture into a greased and lined 20cm cake tin. Bake for 25 minutes at 180c/gas4, until set but still slightly wobbly in middle. Leave to cool in tin.

Gently heat the cream until almost boiling. Remove from heat and then add the remaining chopped chocolate. Stir until the chocolate has melted and the mixture smooth. Leave to cool, then pour over the cake and allow to set.

Put the caster sugar and 100ml water in a pan and cook until lightly caramelized. Take off the heat and add the hazelnuts. Stir quickly to coat, then using tongs, remove the nuts in clusters and place on baking paper to set.

Top the cake with the hazelnut clusters to serve.