Chocolate Cake with Hazelnut Semifreddo Recipe

How to make it

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• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine the chocolate and butter in a metal bowl set over a pan of simmering water and heat until melted and just combined, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and allow to cool until just warm to the touch but still melted.
• While the chocolate is cooling, beat the egg yolks until light and fluffy. Slowly drizzle 1/4 cup sugar into the eggs and continue to beat until fluffy and airy. Beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla until combined.
• Separately, beat 4 egg whites with the salt to soft peaks. Drizzle 1/4 cup sugar into the whites and continue to beat to stiff peaks. Set aside. Fold the whipped egg whites gently into the whipped yolks, then fold in the melted chocolate and cocoa.
• Spread the batter into a 15-inch by 10-inch baking pan which has been buttered, lined with parchment paper and buttered again. Bake the cake for 10 to 12 minutes, until set. Turn the cake out onto a rack to cool.
• Place the cooled cake on a cutting board and cut 3 rectangles from the cake, each the dimensions of the 9-inch loaf pan (these rectangles will form layers in the final dessert). Set aside.
• Make the hazelnut praline: In a small saucepan, combine 1/2 cup sugar with 2 tablespoons water. Heat to boiling (dissolving the sugar), then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the syrup turns golden brown, several minutes.
• Stir in the toasted hazelnuts, then pour out onto a lightly buttered baking sheet and allow to cool. Break the pralines into pieces and coarsely process in a food processor. You should have 1 1/2 cups crushed praline. Set aside.
• Make the semifreddo: Whip the cream to stiff peaks, then fold in the amaretto liqueur and remaining vanilla. Separately, whip the remaining 3 egg whites. Gradually beat in the remaining 1/2 cup sugar until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the egg whites into the whipped cream, along with 1 cup of the crushed praline.
• Assemble the cake: Line the loaf pan with plastic wrap. Place 1 layer of the cake snugly into the bottom of the pan. Evenly spread 1/3 of the semifreddo base over the top of the cake, and top with a generous tablespoon of the crushed pralines. Repeat with the remaining layers, for a total of 3 layers. Sprinkle the remaining praline evenly over the top of the cake. Freeze, wrapped in plastic, until ready to serve.
• To unmold the cake, dip the base of the frozen loaf pan quickly in a bowl of hot water to loosen the cake. Remove the cake (still wrapped in plastic) from the mold. Gently unwrap the cake. The cake can be served whole on a serving platter garnished with orange slices mint or kumquats, or can be sliced.