Nothing says thank you like chocolate…
To say that I am overwhelmed is an understatement. As is my mom. In true fashion of my mom though, it was not so much the monetary donations that moved her (though that is nice too), she was so moved by the comments that people left for her through the American Cancer Society.
“People left such wonderful comments to me…they don’t even know me”.
I kindly reminded her that the kind of do since I spill her secrets on here from time to time. 
Which I am sure she feels is all worth it now. So thank you, thank you, thank you for all of you who donated!!!! You amazing, amazing people have helped her raise $900!!! $900. In my wildest dreams I didn’t think we would raise so much.
As promised, here is this simple yet insanely good Chocolate Hazelnut Financier with Nutella Ganache. Though this looks simple, there are a couple of steps that make it a little time consuming, but they need to be done. Don’t let that stop you from making it, they aren’t hard, they just take a little time. And when you are done, you will have a cake that will help remind you that life truly is worth living!!!
There is still time to donate, so if you want to help you can go read about it HERE!
Chocolate Hazelnut Financier with Nutella Ganache
4 TBSP unsalted butter
10 oz semi-sweet chocolate
1 ¼ cups heavy cream
1/3 cup Nutella
1 ½ cups hazelnut meal
1 cup almond meal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup powdered sugar
½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
7 large egg whites, at room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350F.
Place oven rack in center of oven. Spray a 10×2-inch round cake pan with pan spray, line with a piece of parchment paper, then coat paper lightly with pan spray.
Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook until solids separate and brown to a dark golden color, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and cool at room temperature until it reaches 70 degrees F, about 30 minutes. Don’t chill; it needs to remain liquid. Set aside.
Place chopped chocolate and 1/3 cup Nutella in a medium bowl. Bring cream to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Immediately pour hot cream over chocolate.
Using a spatula, slowly stir in a circular motion, starting from center of bowl and working out to sides. Stir until all chocolate is melted, about 2 minutes. Set aside at room temperature to cool to 70 degrees F.
Sift together almond flour, hazelnut flour, all-purpose flour, powdered sugar, baking powder and salt into bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or use a large bowl and hand mixer. Turn mixer on low speed and mix dry ingredients 30 seconds.
Add egg whites all at once and mix on medium speed 3 minutes.
Add chocolate mixture and vanilla and mix 30 seconds.
Add melted butter all at once. Be sure to scrape in all browned bits from bottom of pan. Mix 30 seconds on medium speed, then turn mixer to high speed and mix 3 minutes more, scraping down sides of bowl well.
Pour batter into prepared pan, spreading evenly. Bake for 15 minutes. Rotate cake for even browning and bake 15 minutes more, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pan on a rack 5 minutes, the invert it onto rack, remove cake pan and parchment and cool completely before decorating and serving.
Nutella Ganache
8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 cup heavy whipping cream
½ cup Nutella
Place chocolate and Nutella in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring cream to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat.
Immediately pour boiling cream over chopped chocolate and Nutella. Tap bowl on counter to settle chocolate into cream, then let stand 1 minute. Using a rubber spatula, slowly stir in a circular motion, starting from center of bowl and working out to sides.
Stir until all chocolate is melted, about 2 minutes. It may look done after 1 minute of stirring, but keep going to make sure it’s emulsified.
Pour ganache on top of cake and spread to cover.
Recipe adapted from The Secrets of Baking by Sherry Yard
38 Responses
Leave a Comment
May 26th, 2010 at 11:31 pm
It looks like Italy tastes… I love the hazelnut/chocolate combo!
May 27th, 2010 at 12:13 am
oh i am loving this rich and incredibly decadent dessert! bloggers are some of the most generous people i know. nice going!
May 27th, 2010 at 1:50 am
Oh you are a good daughter, and I am so thrilled for your Mom! She must be elated! This is a gorgeous financier… luxurious too! Love the last picture!! mmmmmmmm…
May 27th, 2010 at 2:20 am
That chocolate cake is to die for! Irresistible, decadent, so moist and extremely scrumptious looking!
Bloggers are very generous people.
Cheers,
Rosa
May 27th, 2010 at 3:16 am
Such a worthy cause and a trubute to all Peabody.
May 27th, 2010 at 3:46 am
Oh my godddd I want it. My freshman year in college I like lived off of Nutella. I think it’s time for it to make a comeback.
I’m so glad everyone stepped up for your mom!
May 27th, 2010 at 5:22 am
$900 is amazing, congratulations. Your mum must have been so pleased.
This cake looks amazing and even better with the addition of Nutella!
May 27th, 2010 at 5:49 am
How awesome to raise such a great amount of money!
Geez, I love Nutella-this may have to be my bday cake!
May 27th, 2010 at 6:31 am
That glossy ganache is so enticing… Great use of lighting in these photos! The highlights make the whole cake seem to sparkle.
May 27th, 2010 at 7:09 am
I wish I could swim in the ganache.
May 27th, 2010 at 7:31 am
Looks like another winner… though I haven’t the foggiest idea where to get hazlenut or almond meal. Suggestions?? On that same note … I was unable to find hazlenut extract for a previous recipe..
May 27th, 2010 at 7:48 am
Wow, that looks marvelous!! You had me at nutella!
May 27th, 2010 at 8:20 am
Beautiful cake, and you’re right – nothing says thank you like chocolate, espeically something made with so much love like this cake. Congrats on raising $900, that’s AMAZING.
May 27th, 2010 at 8:57 am
Karma, Peabody…
You & your Mom put out good energy & it comes right back.
May 27th, 2010 at 9:35 am
Mmmmm, thanks for sharing. And thanks to your mom for raising money to fight cancer. Cancer sucks.
May 27th, 2010 at 10:37 am
That looks amazing. I don’t know how you don’t gain hundreds of pounds from the decadent things I see on here all the time. Also I like your bowl, we have the same ones.
May 27th, 2010 at 11:37 am
Well done and isn’t that the truth!? I’m forwarding your post to nutella loving friends right now.
May 27th, 2010 at 12:07 pm
Oh. My. God. I just looked at this and gained 10 pounds.
May 27th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
You won’t hold it against me if I just make the Nutella ganache and eat it plain with a spoon?
May 27th, 2010 at 3:23 pm
OMG OMG. Chocolate and nutella? In a cake? It looks and sounds absolutely divine. I want to make this so bad… except I don’t know where to buy almond meal. I’m guessing Whole Foods.
Anyway, I’m very glad you were able to raise so much money for your mom! She sounds very sweet and certainly deserves support. <3
May 27th, 2010 at 5:08 pm
yay I’m so happy for your mom! She sounds like the sweetest thing. As for this cake. Amazing. Chocolate hazelnut heaven. You can’t go wrong.
May 27th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
Wow! “You’re welcome” doesn’t seem like enough…
Big hugs for you and your mom.
May 27th, 2010 at 8:45 pm
That Nutella ganache sure looks like a winner! I’ll have to give it a go soon
May 28th, 2010 at 8:43 am
so happy for your mom
ps – this cake is sinful!!!!
May 28th, 2010 at 11:45 am
Just wonder whether you know or not. Your this post has been stolen. The same site has stolen mine too.
May 28th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
This recipe is worth my donation! WOW, your mom is amazing for getting out there minus a toe. Mine’s a survivor of endometrial cancer. Please tell her we’re all rooting for her to finish strong.
May 29th, 2010 at 7:17 am
That cake looks divine! What a great thing your mom is doing! It is funny how we all get to know each other through our stories and thoughts. I was a lot more reserved in the beginning of blogging, but now I just talk like I normally would…for good or bad. Good luck to your mom!
May 30th, 2010 at 6:34 am
chocolate does everything!
May 30th, 2010 at 7:56 am
I am so excited you raised that much money and I am honored that I got to contribute. Go Peabody’s Mom!!!!!!
May 31st, 2010 at 4:11 am
sorry mine is late! just got through with donating
hope it gets through! best of luck and wishes to your mom! and of course you too <3
i didn't donate because of the recipe, but it was a nice bonus! ;D it looks sooooooo yummy!!!!!
May 31st, 2010 at 10:34 am
oh my lord. making this immediately.
May 31st, 2010 at 5:20 pm
*SWOON* And that last pic? Would love that ganache stream right in my mouth. hmmm….dreamy.
May 31st, 2010 at 5:37 pm
Looks so delicious and make me greedy. If I were there, I would devour some.
May 31st, 2010 at 8:35 pm
nutella ganache??? MUST. TRY. THIS.
June 1st, 2010 at 9:00 pm
The photos of th “drip” is fabulous…very nice
June 2nd, 2010 at 11:47 pm
Ohhhh, i want some!!!! Nutella is so good in a cake, nice shot!
June 3rd, 2010 at 7:08 pm
Your photos are absolutely amazing! Seeing that glaze drip off your cake is making my mouth water! Congrats on the food bloggers conference!
June 18th, 2010 at 11:20 am
Oh My!!