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    Where Is My Spoon > Recipes > Romanian > Romanian Desserts

    Egyptian Hazelnut Cake

    Published by: Adina December 5, 2019 ยท Last modified: October 7, 2021 20 Comments
    Jump to Recipe
    pinterest image sliced hazelnut cake with buttercream on a plate.

    Last Updated on 07/10/2021 by Adina

    This Egyptian cake with hazelnuts is the creamiest, sweetest, most comforting cake you can imagine. Hazelnuts, buttercream, and a caramel cream filling, can it get any better?

    egyptian cake on a serving platter

    This Egyptian hazelnut cake is really something special, definitely one of my favorite cakes ever! So soft and so creamy, so full of flavor... it can hardly get any better!

    I think I did not mention it yet, but the theme for the last two weeks of the year is hazelnuts. I love them dearly, I always did, and there are so many things I put them into that I decided I might do a series about it.

    I did not even have to particularly look for many recipes including hazelnuts, I really use them so often, I just had the difficulty of choosing among all those recipes that I make often and like so much.

    Especially now, at Christmas time, with all the cookies and hazelnut cakes I'm baking, there are really hazelnuts to be found just about anywhere. Thank God, none of us has a nut allergy or any allergies whatsoever. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Jump to recipe
    • About the Egyptian Cake
    • Tips for making the hazelnut buttercream cake
    • Step-by-step
    • More luxurious cakes
    • Recipe
    • Egyptian Hazelnut Cake

    About the Egyptian Cake

    Although this cake is called Egyptian, I really cannot say if it truly is an Egyptian recipe. But it became famous in Romania under this name, and so I decided to keep it.

    If you are Romanian and read at least a few Romanian food blogs, you might have found this recipe already. I have seen it on so many Romanian blogs that I find it difficult to give you a clear source. I wrote down the recipe I found on Laura Sava's blog (the link opens in a new tab), but she gives another source as well.

    So, if you are looking for a decadent, truly amazing-tasting dessert for Christmas, I can really recommend this Egyptian cake.

    Egyptian Hazelnut Cake

    Tips for making the hazelnut buttercream cake

    • The Egyptian hazelnut cake needs to be made one day in advance. Once assembled, it has to spend one night in the refrigerator.
    • You can start two days in advance and make the layers and pudding for buttercream and caramel. They need to cool completely before assembling.
    • Especially the pudding should be prepared one day in advance, as it needs quite a long time to cool completely.

    Kitchen scale:

    • Tip number 1 and the most important one as well: use a kitchen scale (the Amazon affiliate link opens in a new tab); it guarantees for best results. (Amazon affiliate link)
    • Cup measuring is just too imprecise, especially when it comes to making cakes that involve more than just throwing 5 ingredients in a bowl.

    Step-by-step

    • Follow the indicated steps and work methodically, one step after another.
    • Don't start on two things simultaneously; finish one thing before you begin another. It will save you the stress.

    Step 1:

    • Start with the layers; you will need to bake 3 of them separately, and they will have to cool completely before you assemble everything.
    • If you make them one day in advance, cool completely, then wrap them individually in cling film, to prevent them from drying out or sticking together.

    Step 2:

    • Prepare the pudding for the vanilla buttercream; it also needs to cool completely.
    • It can also be made one day in advance. In this case, place a piece of cling film directly on the surface of the pudding. That will prevent the pudding from forming a skin.

    Step 3:

    • Make the caramel; it also needs to cool completely.
    • It can also be made one day in advance, but don't crush it until you are ready to fold it into the heavy cream.

    Step 4:

    • Make the buttercream. Make sure you use soft, unsalted butter and that the pudding and the butter are both at room temperature, if their temperatures are different, the buttercream might break.
    • Beat the butter thoroughly before you start incorporating the pudding. The butter should be white and fluffy; beat it for at least 3-4 minutes.
    • Incorporate the pudding into the butter one tablespoon at a time, making sure that the buttercream is well mixed before adding the next portion.
    • Never taste the buttercream while you mix the butter with the pudding. The spit on your fingers or spoon will cause the buttercream to curdle.

    How to fix broken buttercream? In case it happens...

    • If the buttercream still curdles/breaks, don't despair; there is a way to fix that.
    • Place the bowl with the buttercream on a pot filled with water, but make sure that the water doesn't touch the buttercream bowl (bain Marie).
    • Heat gently (making sure that the water doesn't come to a boil) while whisking continuously until the buttercream is smooth again.

    Step 5:

    • Make the caramel cream.
    • Break the caramel into smaller pieces and process the pieces in a food processor until you have a fine powder. Alternatively, you can crush the pieces to powder using a rolling pin.
    • Whisk the heavy cream until stiff.
    • Fold in the caramel powder and the ground hazelnuts.

    Step 6:

    • Assemble the Egyptian hazelnut cake.
    • Reserve 5 or 6 tablespoons of the buttercream and set them aside for later.
    • Place one layer on a platter.
    • Divide the remaining buttercream into 3 parts and spread one part evenly on the first cake layer.
    • Divide the caramel filling into 3 parts and spread one part evenly on top of the buttercream filling. Place the second layer on top and repeat the procedure. Do the same with the third one.

    Step 7:

    • Frost.
    • To finish the cake, frost it around the edges with the reserved buttercream.
    • Place in the fridge overnight to allow it to set nicely and get really moist.

    Step 8:

    • Finish the cake.
    • Just before serving: sprinkle the edges and the top with the extra ground hazelnuts and only the top with the unsweetened cocoa powder.
    Egyptian Hazelnut Cake

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    Recipe

    a slice of creamy egyptian cake filled with three layers of vanilla buttercream.

    Egyptian Hazelnut Cake

    This Egyptian cake is the creamiest, sweetest, comforting hazelnut cake you can imagine. Hazelnuts, buttercream caramel cream filling, can it get any better?
    4.88 from 33 votes
    Print Pin Share GrowSaved! Rate
    Course: Cakes
    Cuisine: Romanian
    Prep Time: 1 hour hour
    Cook Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 2 hours hours 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 14
    Calories: 576kcal
    Author: Adina
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    Ingredients 

    • Hazelnut cake โ€“ you will bake 3 cakes so divide the ingredients to three from the beginning:
    • 6 egg whites the yolks are needed for the filling (medium Germany, large US)
    • 6 tablespoons fine sugar
    • 1 ยฝ tablespoons all-purpose flour
    • 150 g ground hazelnuts 5.3 oz/ 1 ยฝ cups
    • Buttercream filling:
    • 6 egg yolks
    • 3 level tablespoons cornstarch
    • 6 tablespoons granulated sugar
    • 340 ml milk 11.5 fl.oz/ scant 1 ยฝ cups
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 170 g butter 6 oz/ 1 ยฝ sticks, soft
    • For the caramel filling:
    • 200 g granulated sugar 7 oz/ 1 cup
    • 220 ml ml/ 0.9 fl.oz/ scant 1 cup heavy/ double cream
    • 130 g ground hazelnuts 4.6 oz/ 1 โ…“ cups
    • For the garnish:
    • 2-3 tablespoons ground hazelnuts
    • unsweetened cocoa powder

    Instructions

    Hazelnut cake:

    • Preheat the oven to 170 degrees Celsius/ 340 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly butter the bottom of a 24 cm/9-inch springform and line it with baking paper. You will only use the bottom of the springform. Cut two more baking paper circles of the same size while you are at it.
    • Divide ingredients: You will need three cakes made and baked separately, one after another. You will need 2 egg whites, 2 tablespoons sugar, ยฝ tablespoon flour, and 50 g/ 1.8 oz/ ยฝ cup of ground hazelnuts for each cake.
    • Make the batter: Whisk the 2 egg whites until stiff. Slowly add 2 tablespoons of the sugar and continue beating until you cannot feel the sugar anymore. Sprinkle ยฝ tablespoon of the flour and 50 g/1.8 oz/ ยฝ cup of the hazelnuts on top and fold in carefully using a rubber spatula.
    • Bake: Spread this mixture evenly on the prepared springform base and bake for about 20 to 25 minutes or until golden.
    • Second and third batter: In the meantime prepare the mixture for the second cake, bake it and while that is in the oven, prepare the mix for the third cake and then bake it. Leave all three cakes to cool on wire racks.

    Buttercream filling:

    • Mix: In a small pot, mix the egg yolks and the cornstarch. Little by little, add the sugar and the milk while whisking all the time. Bring to a boil and let simmer on a low flame for about 6 minutes, stirring very often to prevent it from catching. Whisk continuously during the last 2 minutes.
    • Cool: Set aside and stir in the vanilla extract. Place a piece of plastic foil directly on top of the mixture to prevent it from forming a skin and let cool completely.
    • Soften butter: Take the butter out of the fridge to allow it to get soft.
    • Make the caramel: You can make the caramel during this waiting time, it also needs to get cold.
    • Make the buttercream: When the pudding is cold and the butter soft, beat the butter until fluffy. Add the pudding one tablespoon at a time while whisking well in between. Set aside.

    Caramel and the cream filling:

    • Make the caramel: Place the sugar in a non-stick pan on a low flame. Let caramelize slowly, taking care it doesn't get too dark. Next, line a baking tray with baking paper, brush the paper with a bit of oil and pour the sugar on the oiled paper in a thin layer. Caution: it is very hot!
    • Grind caramel: Let it get cold, break it into smaller pieces and process the pieces in a food processor until you have a fine powder. Alternatively, you can crush the pieces to powder using a rolling pin.
    • Whisk the heavy cream until stiff. Fold in the caramel powder and the ground hazelnuts.
    • Take 5 or 6 tablespoons of the buttercream and set aside for later.

    Assemble the Egyptian cake:

    • Place one cake layer on a platter. Divide the rest of the buttercream into 3 parts and spread one part evenly on the first cake.
    • Divide the caramel filling into 3 parts and spread one part evenly on top of the buttercream filling. Next, place the second cake on top and repeat the procedure. Do the same with the third cake.
    • To finish the cake, frost it around the edges with the buttercream you set aside at the beginning.
    • Chill: Place in the fridge overnight to allow to set nicely and get moist.
    • Just before serving: sprinkle the edges and the top with the extra ground hazelnuts and only the top with the unsweetened cocoa powder.

    Notes

    Always use a digital kitchen scale in baking; it ensures the best results (Amazon affiliate link).

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 576kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 25g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 142mg | Sodium: 185mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 38g
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @adinabeck or tag #WhereIsMySpoon!

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    Comments

    1. Susanne says

      January 10, 2025 at 9:18 pm

      Hi I came across this recipe and it sounded absolutely delicious. When I tried to print the recipe, nothing happened. It wouldnโ€™t print. Do I have to do something special to make it print? Could you send it to my email so I can print it that way?

      Reply
    2. Luana says

      May 05, 2020 at 1:47 am

      Hello, Adina! I bought all the ingredients and I figured I'd give it a try, since it sounds like this cake will become my next obsession. Are the hazelnuts supposed to be roasted before grounding them or raw? Btw: I love your site and recommended it to a few people who are of Romanian heritage (like myself) and who remember having some of these dishes in their parents/grandparents' homes growing up. Cheers!

      Reply
      • Adina says

        May 05, 2020 at 6:41 pm

        Hi Luana. So nice to read your comment and thank you for recommending the blog. The hazelnuts are not roasted, I buy already ground ones and use them as they are. Happy baking!

        Reply
    3. Teri says

      October 19, 2019 at 2:35 pm

      Hello! Quick question. What is double cream And fine sugar? I love baking, itโ€™s my thing, but Iโ€™m not professional or anything of the sort, just like to find recipes that sound amazing and make those. And this cake sounds like the best thing ever so I plan to make it soon, but havenโ€™t ever read fine sugar or double cream in a recipe. I know, Iโ€™m not very well informed. Iโ€™m sorry! Thanks a ton!

      Reply
      • Adina says

        October 19, 2019 at 9:05 pm

        Hi Teri. Double cream is heavy cream, the kind of cream that can be whipped (with no sugar, in some countries they add sugar and preservatives to whipping cream, but that doesn't taste good). Fine sugar is granulated sugar that is a bit finer than the regular one, use regular if that is what you have.

        Reply
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    4.88 from 33 votes (33 ratings without comment)

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