Chocolate Hazelnut Cake

If there is one thing which has been making me feel happy lately it’s making a simple cake… especially a chocolate cake.

Either to keep out on the kitchen bench for a little sweet snack, or to give as a thoughtful gift to friends who are feeling down, or even to take a couple of slices to the local park to enjoy.

Above left: Fresh free range eggs / Above right: Lovely dark glossy pieces of chocolate about to be melted.

This is a favourite recipe and is foolproof. It’s one of Julia Ostro’s – aka Julia Busuttil Nishimura, the Melbourne based cook and author.

I love her recipes and also the lovely warmth she exudes with everything she does. If you don’t know her, have a little google or instagram stalk.

Her recipes celebrate simple ingredients, which is very refreshing for this humble home cook.

Above left: Sieving Dutch Cocoa using old school traditional cooking utensils / Above right: Stirring the melted chocolate

This delicious chocolate cake calls for 7 ingredients and most things you will already have in the pantry at home.

Truth be known if I don’t have hazelnuts, I use almond meal instead of making a special trip to the shops.

Above left: Good enough to lick the bowl / Above right: The first warm slice of the Chocolate Hazelnut Cake, dusted with some extra Dutch Cocoa.

If you have an electric mixer this will make the whisking a breeze, as a little extra air in the mix will go a long way. If not, work those arm muscles!

I dust mine with Dutch Cocoa and eat a slice straight away while it’s warm (I know, naughty!)

It really doesn’t need icing, it’s decadent enough, especially as you sometimes discover extra gooey bits of chocolate in each mouthful.