Nutella Cake Nuts and Making in Advance

Asked by ChilliBob. Answered on 19th March 2015

Full question

I would like to bake the Nutella Cake for a birthday cake, however, I'm wondering if I were to bake it in advance how long it would remain 'decent' - and not dry/hard/poor for the birthday! Any advice much appreciated. Thanks!

I am having difficulty finding ground hazelnuts and was wondering whether I could substitute ground almonds instead? Louboo1

Our answer

Nigella's Nutella Cake (from Domestic Goddess and on the Nigella website) is not made with flour but instead with ground hazelnuts. The nuts contain oils, as do the butter and Nutella and together these make a very moist cake. So the cake will keep reasonably well, though if you are making it in advance we suggest that you ice it only on the day you want to eat it.

You could make the cake 5 days in advance. Once it is cold wrap it tightly in clingfilm (plastic wrap) and if possible put it in an airtight container. Keep it in a cool, dry place untul ready to ice. You could also make the cake up to 3 months in advance and freeze it, without the icing. Once it is cold wrap it tightly in a double layer of clingfilm and a layer of foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. To thaw the cake unwrap it and leave it on a wire rack at room temperature for about 4 hours.

The cake is made with ground hazelnuts as hazelnut is the main component of Nutella, but you could substitite ground almonds if hazelnuts are not available. However taste of the cake may be very slightly different if using almonds.