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Cacao, hazelnut and raspberry cake

What’s not to love about the classic combo of dark chocolate and hazelnuts? This gluten- and dairy-free version means everyone can have a slice.

By Emma Knowles
  • 15 mins preparation
  • 25 mins cooking plus cooling
  • Serves 8 - 10
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What's not to love about the classic combo of dark chocolate and hazelnuts? In this dairy-free, gluten-free cake, the chocolatey goodness comes in the form of raw cacao, while rich rapadura sugar adds depth of flavour and a handful or two of raspberries cuts through the richness. This cake is delicious served with a dollop of thick plain yoghurt.

Ingredients

  • 250 gm coconut oil, melted
  • 110 gm raw cacao powder, sieved, plus extra for dusting
  • 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
  • 6 eggs, separated
  • 250 gm rapadura sugar (see note)
  • 140 gm hazelnut meal
  • 60 gm coconut flour
  • ½ tsp gluten-free baking powder
  • 80 gm raspberries, plus extra to serve
  • 20 gm cacao nibs, plus extra to serve
  • Freeze-dried raspberries (optional), to serve

Method

Main
  • 1
    Preheat oven to 170C. Grease a 22cm-diameter cake tin and line it with baking paper. Whisk coconut oil and cacao powder in a bowl until smooth, then whisk in vanilla paste. Whisk egg yolks and half the sugar in a separate bowl until thick and pale (1-2 minutes), fold into cacao mixture, then fold in hazelnut meal, coconut flour, baking powder and a good pinch of sea salt.
  • 2
    Whisk eggwhites and a pinch of salt in an electric mixer to soft peaks (1-2 minutes). Gradually add remaining sugar and whisk to firm peaks (1-2 minutes). Fold into cacao mixture, then fold in raspberries and cacao nibs. Spoon batter into cake tin, smooth top and bake until set with a slight wobble in the centre (15-20 minutes). Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate to chill (2-3 hours). Serve cacao, hazelnut and raspberry cake dusted with cacao, and scattered with extra raspberries, freeze-dried raspberries and cacao nibs.

Notes

Rapadura sugar, an unrefined cane sugar, is available from health-food shops and select supermarkets.