Nutella and Chocolate Fudge Cake

This Nutella and Chocolate Fudge Cake is truly irresistible. Creamy, fudge-like chocolate and Nutella decadence over a homemade hazelnut butter and graham cracker crust.

This recipe is not for the faint of heart. Be prepared to go into chocolate ecstasy with your first bite. I had to pace myself while eating a slice, which is the best compliment I could possibly give.

Chocolate Fudge Cake with Nutella

This Chocolate Fudge Cake recipe is extravagant, while still having a relatively simple ingredient list. It’s got double chocolate and double hazelnut flavors from Nutella and real hazelnuts; more is almost always better.

Bittersweet and milk chocolate chips melted and swirled into homemade hazelnut butter and Nutella make this fudge cake truly irresistible. Mixed with fresh whipped cream and poured over a bed of graham cracker and hazelnut crust.

It bakes to perfection and creates a creamy, fudgy texture that will send you into chocolate bliss. 

Ingredients for Chocolate Fudge Cake

• Hazelnuts and olive oil – used to make homemade nut butter
• Graham crackers – for the fudge cake crust
• Butter – melted
• Bittersweet and milk chocolate chips – creates a perfect balance of flavors for the filling
• Nutella, or similar chocolate/hazelnut spread – for an extra hazelnut hit
• Eggs – helps the cake rise 
• Granulated sugar – you could use light brown or white
• Whipping cream – for the filling and for topping

What’s the difference between regular chocolate cake and chocolate fudge cake?

The difference is in the texture. Regular chocolate cake is lighter and airier whereas fudge cake is denser and has an almost chewy texture.

Best chocolate to use for fudge cake

I use a combination of bittersweet and milk chocolate chips for the perfect balance of sweet and bitter flavors. Use a high-quality brand of chocolate as some baking chocolates have a powdery, grainy texture. They can also contain unnecessary added or artificial ingredients.

Whatever you choose make sure it’s for baking, not eating, as eating chocolate can thicken easily and split when heated.

Tips for making Chocolate Fudge Cake

• Adding the springform pan into a tray filled with water (halfway up sides) will ensure even baking. Water boils at 212º F and will not heat further. This is why the recipe bakes for so long, it’s a slow even baking. The water also evaporates as it boils, creating steam in the oven and adds moisture to the cake.
• Making your own homemade nut butter is super easy. Just blend nuts in a food processor until smooth and consistency of peanut butter. You can optionally add some salt and healthy oil, but it’s not necessary. Natural oils in nuts release when blended, creating a creamy texture.
• For an extra hazelnut and chocolate hit, I add Nutella to the batter which is just incredibly delicious. You can use any chocolate hazelnut spread or make your own.
• You can prepare the nut butter up to a week in advance and store it separately in the fridge to save time.

Storage and serving tips

• Store sealed in the fridge for up to one week. You can freeze wrapped in plastic wrap and foil to reduce air exposure, but the flavors may not be optimal.
• If serving chilled leftovers, let the cake stand at room temperature for 15-30 minutes before serving for best flavor and texture. Most cakes are better served closer to room temperature, as the sweetness sensation is affected when served cold.

Serving suggestions

Whipped cream and hazelnuts make a simple topping that compliment the chocolate flavors, but you could also frost the cake with your favorite frosting such as chocolate, vanilla, or cream cheese. If using whipped cream, don’t top until ready to serve.

You can also leave the whipped cream and opt for pouring heavy cream over it or adding a scoop of your favorite ice cream. You can’t go wrong with any of these options!

Products used in this recipe:

• Hamilton Beach Food Processor (optional but helps)
• 3-Piece Mixing Bowl Set, Blue/Green/Yellow
  
• Cuisinart 5-Speed Hand Mixer
• Signature Springform Pan, 10-Inch

More chocolate desserts you might like:

• Peppermint Buttercream Chocolate Crackle Cookie Sandwiches
• Dark Chocolate Espresso Brownies
• Sweet and Salty Dark Chocolate Bark
• Fudgy Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake

Leave a comment below and star rating if you made this recipe or want to share your thoughts.

 

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5 from 1 vote

Nutella and Chocolate Fudge Cake

Bittersweet and milk chocolate melted swirled into homemade hazelnut butter and Nutella. Baked to creamy, fudge cake perfection. Welcome to chocolate bliss.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword double chocolate fudge cake, easy chocolate fudge cake, Hazelnut fudge cake

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Chilling 5 hours hours

Total Time 1 hour hour 45 minutes minutes

Calories 579kcal

Servings 12 servings

Author: Matt Ivan

Did you know? Servings and ingredient amounts can be adjusted on all my recipes. Click the green number above to change.

Ingredients

Crust

• ▢ ½ cup hazelnuts, chopped or crushed
• ▢ ½ cup finely crushed graham crackers
• ▢ 2 tablespoons butter, melted

Homemade Hazelnut Butter

• ▢ 1 cup whole hazelnuts
• ▢ 2 tablespoons olive oil

Chocolate Fudge Cake Batter

• ▢ 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate chips
• ▢ 8 ounces milk chocolate chips
• ▢ 1 cup Nutella, or similar chocolate/hazelnut spread
• ▢ 6 large eggs
• ▢ ½ cup granulated sugar
• ▢ 1 cup whipping cream

Instructions

To make crust

• Preheat oven to 350º F. Butter the bottom and sides of a 10-inch springform pan. Tightly wrap bottom and outside of pan with foil (this will prevent water from seeping in). 
• In a small bowl combine crushed graham crackers and ½ cup chopped hazelnuts. 
• Stir in melted butter until combined. Press mixture evenly into bottom of the prepared springform pan. Set aside.

To make batter

• Place 1 cup whole hazelnuts into a food processor. Cover and blend until a paste forms. Add olive oil, cover, and pulse until combined. Set aside.
• In a large saucepan over low, heat bittersweet and milk chocolate chips until melted, stirring often. Remove from heat and stir in prepared hazelnut butter and Nutella spread. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat eggs with electric mixer on medium speed until frothy, 1-2 minutes. Gradually add sugar and beat on medium-high until thick and sugar is dissolved, about 6-8 minutes. 
• Pour chocolate and Nutella mixture into egg and sugar mixture. Stir gently to combine and set aside.
  
• In a clean bowl, beat whipping cream on medium speed until peak form, about 4-5 minutes. Gently fold whipped cream into chocolate mixture. Pour batter onto crust and spread evenly.

Baking and serving

• Place filled springform pan into a shallow roasting pan, place on center rack in oven. Pour warm water into the roasting pan to reach halfway up the outside of the springform pan. 
• Bake 1 hour and 15 minutes. Carefully remove springform pan from water and cool cake on a wire rack for 1-2 hours. Remove foil, cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours to set.
• Let the cake stand at room temperature for 15-30 minutes before serving for best flavor and texture.
  

Notes

• Adding the springform pan into a tray filled with water (halfway up sides) will ensure even baking. Water boils at 212º F and will not heat further. This is why the recipe bakes for so long, it's slow and even cooking. The water also evaporates as it boils, creating steam in the oven and adds moisture to the cake.
• If you don't have Nutella, use any chocolate hazelnut spread or make your own.
• Store leftovers sealed in the fridge for up to 1 week 

Nutrition Facts

Nutella and Chocolate Fudge Cake

Amount Per Serving (1 slice)

Calories 579 Calories from Fat 333

% Daily Value*

Fat 37g57%

Saturated Fat 22g138%

Cholesterol 117mg39%

Sodium 114mg5%

Potassium 334mg10%

Carbohydrates 52g17%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 40g44%

Protein 8g16%

Vitamin A 510IU10%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 143mg14%

Iron 2.4mg13%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Recipe adapted from Better Homes and Garden: Fall Baking. Print. 2014.