Name: Chocolate Hazelnut Pear Cake + Maple Cream
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 8 Slices
Cuisine: Italian

Sunday Table Verified

February 19, 2025

13 Ingredients

HARD

This flourless chocolate hazelnut cake is rich and comforting and has a nice brightness thanks to the addition of red pears! Top with maple cream and a dash of cinnamon to make it extra cozy. It’s the kind of dessert that feels rustic yet special—something you’d serve at a dinner party, but also sneak a slice of with your morning coffee. The pears melt into the batter and bring just the right amount of sweetness and texture!

Chocolate Hazelnut Pear Cake + Maple Cream

Chocolate Hazelnut Pear Cake + Maple Cream cover

From the Cook

1/6

Chocolate Hazelnut Pear Cake + Maple Cream

Sunday Table Verified

Ingredients

Slices

WarningMilk and 5 other allergens identified

Instructions

Chocolate Hazelnut Pear Cake

Grease and line a 9-10 in. (23-25 cm) springform cake pan with parchment paper. (If you don’t have a springform pan, you can use a regular cake pan, but it will be more difficult to remove the cake). Preheat the oven to 325° F (163° C).

Place the hazelnuts in a food processor (or high-powered blender) and pulse until the hazelnuts are finely ground. Scrape the sides a couple times to ensure the flour is evenly ground. Make sure not to pulse it too much, or it will turn into hazelnut butter! Set aside.

Break the chocolate into pieces, and place it in a medium-sized, heat-proof bowl with the unsalted butter. Set the bowl over a pot of simmering water, and stir constantly with a wood spoon until the chocolate-butter mixture is completely melted and smooth. Don’t overheat, or the chocolate may seize.

Remove the bowl from the heat, add the sugar and hazelnut flour to the chocolate-butter mixture, and stir until completely mixed. Ensure the mixture is mixed very well or the butter may separate in the oven! Set aside to cool to room-temperature.

Separate the egg yolks from the whites. In a small bowl, whip the egg whites until stiff and shiny (but not dry). Add the egg yolks to the chocolate hazelnut batter, one at a time, until completely mixed. Stir in the vanilla and salt. Then, gently fold the egg whites into the chocolate hazelnut batter until no longer streaky.

Pour the chocolate hazelnut batter into the prepared pan, and smooth the top. Place the pear halves on top (or chop the pears and sprinkle them over the top). Bake for 30-35 minutes, until the top is dry and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out with just a few crumbs. The pears may make the cake appear under-baked, but be careful not to cook it for too long, or it will get dry. 35 minutes was perfect for my oven.

Let the cake cool completely in the pan. Remove the cake from the pan, and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve with maple cream and cinnamon.

Maple Cream

Add the whipping cream, powdered sugar, and maple syrup to a clean bowl. Beat until lightly whipped. Dollop over cake slices!

Smart Nutrition

My Calorie Intake

Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

0
Review & Earn

Be the first to review this recipe and earn a 20% Bonus

Level up & unlock free Premium by reviewing recipes!

My Notes

Your kitchen notebook is waiting.

Whether it's a recipe tweak or an inspiration burst — jot it down here.

Tips & Tricks (5)

Pear Perfection 🍐
Choose ripe but firm pears and pat them completely dry before incorporating into the batter to prevent excess moisture from compromising the cake's texture.
Chocolate Melting Magic 🍫
Melt dark chocolate and butter using a double boiler method to ensure smooth, even melting without burning, which preserves the rich flavor profile of the chocolate.
Hazelnut Toasting Technique 🥜
Toast hazelnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, constantly stirring, to enhance their nutty flavor and remove any bitter skins before chopping and adding to the cake.
Maple Cream Stability 🍯
Chill your whipping cream and mixing bowl beforehand to ensure the maple cream whips up quickly and maintains a stable, fluffy consistency.
Flourless Cake Texture Trick 🍰
Separate egg whites and whip them to soft peaks before gently folding into the batter to create a lighter, more delicate flourless cake texture.

Intelligent Tags

About the Cook

Sunday Table

I’m Sara, the creator behind Sunday Table, sharing cozy, modern small bites and mini desserts made for entertaining. Trained in baking and culinary arts, I’ve been creating elevated, crowd-pleasing recipes since 2012 (with lots of coffee). ☕️