Best 11 Hazelnut Praline Recipes

HAZELNUT CAKE WITH PRALINE AND MILK CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Place an oven rack in the middle position. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9-by-3-inch round cake pan with vegetable spray. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick silicone baking mat; set aside.
• Make the sponge cake: Grind the hazelnuts in a food processor with 1/4 cup sugar. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, cornstarch, and hazelnut mixture; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the whole eggs, the yolks, remaining 1/2 cup sugar, salt, and almond extract on high speed until thick and pale yellow in color, and mixture holds a thick ribbon when whisk is lifted from bowl, 7 to 8 minutes. Remove bowl from mixer; gently and quickly fold in flour mixture. Gradually drizzle in oil, while folding.
• Pour batter into prepared cake pan. Set on prepared baking sheet, and bake until a tester comes out clean when inserted into the center of the cake, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven and turn cake out immediately onto a wire rack. Let cool for at least 1 hour.
• Make the buttercream: In the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer set over (but not touching) simmering water, whisk egg whites, sugar, and salt until warm to the touch, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer bowl to mixer fitted with whisk attachment and beat until stiff peaks form. With the mixer running, gradually beat in butter, piece by piece. When all the butter has been added, mixture will break but it will become smooth as you continue to beat. Beat in vanilla. Divide buttercream in half, returning one half to the mixer bowl to make the chocolate flavor and setting aside the remaining half for the praline buttercream.
• Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) simmering water. Slowly beat into buttercream in mixer. Add cocoa mixture and beat until buttercream is cooled; set aside.
• Using a small offset spatula, spread praline paste onto a clean work surface. Smooth paste with a spatula, working out any lumps. Add 1/2 cup reserved buttercream to praline paste and fold it into buttercream. Once the paste and buttercream are fully combined and there are no lumps, fold praline mixture into remaining reserved buttercream.
• Using a serrated knife, trim top of cake to make level. Cut cake horizontally into even thirds. Place four strips of parchment paper around perimeter of a serving plate or lazy Susan. Place the first layer on the cake plate and top with a 1/3- to 1/2-inch layer of praline buttercream. Place second layer on top; top with remaining praline buttercream. Top with remaining layer.
• Spread a thin layer of the chocolate buttercream over the tops and sides of the cake to cover, creating a "crumb" layer. Transfer to refrigerator for 15 minutes to set. Spread tops and sides of cake with remaining chocolate buttercream; serve.

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT CAKE WITH PRALINE CHOCOLATE CRUNCH

Steps:

• For praline chocolate crunch:
• Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Stir sugar and 1/3 cup water in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and cook without stirring, occasionally swirling pan and brushing down sides with a wet pastry brush, until amber in color, 7-8 minutes. Stir in hazelnuts, then pour onto 1 prepared sheet, separating nuts. Let cool.
• Transfer candied nuts to a food processor. Add hazelnut oil and purée until smooth to make praline paste.
• Combine both chocolates and 3 tablespoons praline paste in a medium metal bowl (reserve remaining praline paste for praline mousse layer). Set bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and stir until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and stir in salt, then cereal. Spread out in a thin layer (about 1/8") on second prepared baking sheet. Chill until set, about 30 minutes.DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and keep chilled. Cover and chill remaining praline paste.
• For cake:
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a 17x11x1" sheet pan with parchment paper; butter paper. Sift flour and cocoa powder into a medium bowl and set aside. Separate 4 eggs, placing yolks in a large bowl and whites in a medium bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat yolks with 1/2 cup sugar on medium speed until thick and light yellow, about 3 minutes. Beat in 4 whole eggs, one at a time, blending well between additions.
• Using clean, dry beaters, beat egg whites with remaining 1/2 cup sugar and corn syrup until slightly thickened and frothy, about 2 minutes. Add egg-white mixture to egg-yolk mixture and beat to blend. Add flour-cocoa powder mixture; fold just to blend. Spread out evenly on prepared baking sheet.
• Bake until a tester inserted into center of cake comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Let cool completely. Invert cake onto a large cutting board or baking sheet and peel off parchment. Brush cake all over with brandy. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.
• For nut ganache:
• Bring cream to a boil in a small saucepan. Purée hot cream, hazelnut butter, and salt in a food processor. Let cool to room temperature. With machine running, add butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, puréeing until smooth between additions. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Return to room temperature before using.
• Praline Mousse:
• Combine chocolate, praline paste, and butter in a medium bowl. Bring 3/4 cup cream to a boil in a small saucepan; pour over chocolate mixture. Let stand for 1 minute, then stir until melted and smooth. Beat remaining 1 cup chilled cream until soft peaks form. Fold whipped cream into chocolate mixture. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.
• Assembly:
• Spread nut ganache over cake and chill in freezer until set, about 15 minutes. Spread mousse over ganache and chill in freezer until set, about 15 minutes. Cut cake crosswise into thirds; stack layers on top of each other. Trim edges, then spread Chocolate Glaze epi:recipelinkover top and sides of cake. Freeze until set, about 1 hour. Place in refrigerator and chill overnight. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Tent with foil and keep chilled.
• Let cake stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving. Break up praline chocolate crunch into large shards and arrange on top of cake. Garnish with roasted hazelnuts.

HAZELNUT PRALINE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees with rack in center. Spread nuts on a rimmed baking sheet, and toast them in the oven until they are fragrant, about 8 minutes. Transfer nuts to a clean kitchen towel, and rub nuts in towel vigorously between your hands to remove the brown skins. Lightly brush an 8-by-12-inch rimmed baking pan with the oil. Spread the peeled nuts in the pan.
• In a medium saucepan, combine sugar and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat, brushing down sides of pan with a damp pastry brush to remove any sugar crystals that may form, until mixture is amber, about 9 minutes; do not stir. (Pan may be swirled gently about halfway through to incorporate any uncooked sugar.) Pour directly over nuts to create a thin layer. Set aside to cool, at least 30 minutes.
• Place half the praline in the bowl of a food processor; process until the praline is very fine with no sharp pieces. Cut the remaining praline into small pieces for decoration.

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT PRALINE TORTE WITH FRANGELICO WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter an 8 1/2-inch springform pan (2 inches deep) or other cake pan with same dimensions and line bottom with a round of wax paper. Butter paper and dust pan with flour, knocking out excess flour.
• In a food processor pulse praline until ground fine. Reserve 1/4 cup ground praline and transfer remaining praline to a bowl. In food processor pulse chocolate until finely ground and add to bowl of praline.
• In a bowl with an electric mixer cream together butter, salt, and 1/4 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in yolks, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, and beat in vanilla. Stir in praline chocolate mixture (mixture will be very thick).
• In another bowl with cleaned beaters beat whites until foamy and add a pinch salt and remaining 1/4 cup sugar in a steam, beating until meringue just holds stiff peaks. Fold one third meringue into yolk mixture to lighten and fold in remaining meringue gently but thoroughly. Pour batter into pan and smooth top.
• Bake tort in middle of oven 45 to 55 minutes, or until it begins to pull away from side of pan. Cool torte in pan on a rack (torte will fall slightly and continue to set as it cooks) and remove from pan. Torte may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Bring torte to room temperature before serving.
• In a bowl with an electric mixer beat cream until it just holds soft peaks. Stir in Frangelico and half of reserved praline.
• Top torte with whipped cream and sprinkle with remaining reserves praline. Serve torte immediately.

SPICED PUMPKIN PIE WITH HAZELNUT PRALINE

Steps:

• For praline:
• Line rimmed baking sheet with foil. Mix 1/3 cup water and cream of tartar in small saucepan. Add sugar; stir over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat; boil without stirring until golden, occasionally brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan, about 11 minutes. Add nuts; swirl to combine. Pour praline onto baking sheet, spreading with metal spatula. Cool.
• Break praline into chunks; grind half finely in processor. Reserve powder for filling and remaining chunks for garnish. (Can be made 5 days ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature.)
• For crust:
• Blend flour, sugar, and salt in processor. Add shortening and butter; cut in using on/off turns until mixture resembles coarse meal. Transfer to medium bowl. Mix 2 tablespoons ice water and vinegar in small bowl and add to flour mixture. Stir until moist clumps form, adding more ice water by teaspoonfuls if dough is dry. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic; chill 45 minutes.
• Roll out dough on floured surface to 14-inch round. Transfer to 9-inch glass pie dish. Trim overhang to 3/4 inch. Turn edges under; crimp. Freeze 45 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Bake crust until edges begin to brown, pressing with back of fork if crust bubbles, about 12 minutes. Remove crust from oven. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F.
• Meanwhile, prepare filling:
• Whisk praline powder, pumpkin, and next 10 ingredients in medium bowl to blend.
• Pour filling into warm crust. Bake until filling is puffed around edges and just set in center, about 45 minutes. Transfer pie to rack; cool. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover loosely and chill.)
• For topping:
• Beat cream and sugar in bowl until peaks form. Transfer cream to pastry bag fitted with large star tip. Pipe rosettes around top edge of pie. Garnish with praline chunks.

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE WITH HAZELNUT PRALINE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the hazelnuts on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until toasted, about 10 minutes.
• Add the egg, egg yolks, vanilla extract, 1/3 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon water to a medium heatproof bowl and whisk to combine. Set the bowl over a medium saucepan of gently simmering water (do not allow the bowl to touch the water). Cook, whisking constantly and scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally, until the mixture is pale, hot to the touch and has almost doubled in volume, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from the heat and continue to whisk until the egg mixture has cooled, about 2 minutes.
• Put the bittersweet and semisweet chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl and set it over the saucepan of gently simmering water (do not allow the bowl to touch the water). Stir occasionally with a rubber spatula until the chocolate is melted and smooth.
• Meanwhile, whip the cream in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes. Set aside.
• Once melted, remove the chocolate from the heat and gently stir for about 3 minutes to cool slightly. (If it is too warm it won't combine with the egg mixture or the whipped cream without seizing up.)
• Very slowly stream in and whisk the chocolate into the egg mixture until combined. (The mixture may get very thick.) Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture in 3 additions until it is fully incorporated. Chill, covered, until firm, 4 hours and up to overnight.
• Meanwhile, line a rimmed baking sheet with a silicone baking mat. Add the remaining cup sugar to a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Melt the sugar, swirling the pan and stirring frequently, until it becomes a deep amber color, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from the heat and fold in the hazelnuts. Pour onto the prepared baking sheet and quickly spread very thin. Let sit at room temperature until hardened, about 1 hour. Once hardened, transfer to a cutting board and finely chop.
• To serve, place the serving plates in the freezer until very cold, about 10 minutes.
• If using melted chocolate and whipped cream for serving, prepare them: Put the semisweet chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl and set it over the saucepan of gently simmering water (do not allow the bowl to touch the water). Stir occasionally with a rubber spatula until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Whip the cream in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes.
• Decorate the plates as desired with cocoa powder, melted chocolate or whipped cream. Place two spoons with deep bowls in a cup of boiling water. Remove the mousse from the refrigerator and spoon two quenelles onto each plate using the hot spoons (be sure to dry your spoons before forming the quenelles). Top with the hazelnut praline.

HAZELNUT PRALINE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• 1. Beat softened butter in a bowl with a hand-held mixer.
• 2. Add powdered sugar - use low speed when incorporating it into the butter, then whip until pale yellow.
• 3. Add the vanilla and the hazelnut praline paste. Beat together until a uniform color.

HAZELNUT PRALINE COOKIE BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Line 13x9-inch pan with foil, leaving 1 inch of foil overhanging at 2 opposite sides of pan; spray foil with cooking spray. In food processor, place 1/2 cup hazelnuts. Cover; process until finely ground.
• In medium bowl, beat 1 cup brown sugar and 3/4 cup butter with electric mixer on medium speed 1 minute or until blended. On low speed, beat in flour and ground hazelnuts until well mixed. Press in pan. Bake 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle 1 cup hazelnuts over partially baked crust. In 2-quart saucepan, heat 2/3 cup butter and 1/2 cup brown sugar to boiling over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil 1 minute. Pour over hazelnuts.
• Bake 15 to 16 minutes or until edges are bubbling. Cool completely in pan on cooling rack, about 1 hour.
• In small microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips uncovered on High 30 to 60 seconds, stirring once, until softened and chips can be stirred smooth. Drizzle melted chocolate over bars. Refrigerate 30 minutes or until chocolate is set. Use foil to lift bars out of pan. Cut into 8 rows by 4 rows.

WHITE CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO TORTE WITH HAZELNUT PRALINE

Steps:

• For praline and chocolate curls:
• Place sheet of foil on work surface. Bring sugar and 1/4 cup water to boil in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Boil without stirring until syrup is deep amber, brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling occasionally, 7 to 8 minutes. Mix in espresso powder, then nuts. Scrape mixture onto foil; quickly spread out. Cool completely. Chop praline into small pieces.
• Microwave white chocolate block at 50 percent power in 10-second intervals until chocolate feels just slightly warm and is just beginning to soften (if too soft, let stand until firm enough to shave). Using vegetable peeler, shave 1- to 1 1/2-inch-wide ribbon, about 4 to 5 inches long, from block. Gently roll ribbon into loose curl (cylinder). Repeat, making 20 to 24 curls. DO AHEAD: Praline and chocolate curls can be made 2 days ahead. Chill separately in airtight containers.
• For mousse:
• Stir chocolate and 5 tablespoons water in metal bowl set over saucepan of barely simmering water until chocolate is smooth. Remove bowl from over water. Cool chocolate to lukewarm, stirring occasionally. Using electric mixer, beat cream in large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually pour lukewarm chocolate over cream, folding to blend well. Transfer 2 1/2 cups mousse to another medium bowl; gently fold in espresso powder. Cover and chill both bowls of mousse until firm, at least 6 hours. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled.
• For soaking syrup and ganache:
• Stir liqueur and espresso powder in small bowl until espresso dissolves. Place chocolate and corn syrup in medium bowl. Bring cream to boil in small saucepan; pour over chocolate and corn syrup. Stir until melted and smooth. DO AHEAD: soaking syrup and ganache can be made 1 day ahead. Cover separately and store at room temperature.
• For cake:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat 15 x 10-inch sheet of parchment paper with nonstick spray. Line 15x10x1-inch baking sheet with prepared parchment (sides of baking sheet should not be coated).
• Combine eggs, sugar, 2 teaspoons espresso powder, vanilla, and salt in large bowl. Using electric mixer, beat until egg mixture is thick and fluffy and falls in ribbons when beater is lifted, 6 to 7 minutes. Sift flour over in 3 additions, folding gently just to incorporate after each addition. Transfer 1 cup batter to small bowl; fold in butter. Fold batter from small bowl back into batter in large bowl just until combined; spread evenly on baking sheet.
• Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean and cake begins to pull away from pan, about 18 minutes. Cool cake in pan on rack 30 minutes.
• Sift 2 tablespoons powdered sugar over cake. Cut around pan sides. Slide spatula under parchment to loosen from pan and invert cake onto work surface. Peel off parchment. Cut cake crosswise into 4 rectangles, each about 10 x 3 1/2 inches.
• Place 1 cake rectangle on platter. Brush 2 tablespoons soaking syrup over. Spread 3 tablespoons ganache over, then 1/3 of espresso mousse (about 3/4 cup). Repeat 2 more times with cake, syrup, ganache, and mousse. Top with fourth cake layer; press lightly to adhere. Spread 2/3 cup plain mousse thinly over top and sides of torte to seal, then spread remaining mousse over top and sides. DO AHEAD: can be made 1 day ahead. Tent loosely with foil and chill.
• Before serving, press praline pieces into mousse on all sides of torte. Mound white chocolate curls on top. Mix 4 tablespoons powdered sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons espresso powder in small bowl. Sift over top of torte.

HAZELNUT PRALINE

Steps:

• Lightly oil a baking sheet.
• In a dry heavy saucepan cook sugar over moderate heat, stirring with a fork, until melted and cook, without stirring, swirling pan, just until a golden caramel. Add hazelnuts, stirring until coated well. Immediately pour mixture onto baking sheet and cool completely, about 30 minutes. Remove praline from baking sheet and break into pieces.
• Praline may be eaten as candy or ground in a food processor and used as a dessert topping.

ROASTED NECTARINES WITH CARAMEL SAUCE AND HAZELNUT PRALINE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F. Put 8 of the nectarine halves, cut sides down, in a glass baking dish just large enough to hold them in one layer and roast them in the oven for 20 minutes, or until they are softened. While the nectarines are roasting, chop the remaining 2 nectarines halves, in a non-stick skillet cook them over moderate heat, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes, or until they are very soft, and in a blender or food processor purée them.
• In a heavy saucepan melt 3/4 cup of the sugar over moderate heat, stirring with a fork, and cook the syrup, swirling the pan occasionally, until it is a golden caramel. Working carefully and quickly, stir in the cream, the nectarine purée, and the lemon juice, stirring until the sauce is combined well. Keep the caramel sauce warm.
• Line an 8-inch cake pan with foil and in it spread the hazelnuts in one layer. In another heavy saucepan melt the remaining 1/2 cup sugar over moderate heat, stirring with a fork, and cook the syrup, swirling the pan occasionally, until it is a golden caramel. Working quickly, pour the hot caramel over the hazelnuts. Let the hazelnuts praline cool completely and chop it into small pieces.
• Put 2 roasted nectarine halves, cut sides up, in each of 4 compotes and top each serving with about 2 tablespoons of the caramel sauce and 1 tablespoon of the praline. Garnish each serving with some of the raspberries and some of the mint sprigs and serve the remaining caramel sauce and praline separately.
• To toast and skin the hazelnuts:
• Toast the hazelnuts in one layer in a baking pan in a reheated 350°F. oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until they are colored lightly and the skins blister. Wrap the nuts in a kitchen towel and let them steam for 1 minute. Rub the nuts in the towel to remove as much of the skins as possible and let them cool.