Hazelnut Mocha Spelt Torte

A Hazelnut Mocha Spelt Torte decorated with twelve whole hazelnuts and chocolate shavings. The torte is on a white cake plate with a blue tea towel and white marble countertop in the background

Today would have been my Mom’s 62nd birthday. And this Hazelnut Mocha Spelt Torte would have been her birthday cake.

Why? Because every year when my Mom and her sister were little my Oma would make two of these cakes (albeit smaller versions) to celebrate their birthdays which are a mere 20 days apart. Oma has been making them ever since, tucking them into her deep freeze so she had cake on the ready whenever we came to visit around someone’s birthday.

Last year when my Mom was too sick to even be thinking about making a birthday cake for Oma I took the reigns. When I asked Oma what kind of cake she would like she tried to convince me that she would make her own birthday cake! HA! I of course was having none of that so instead I surprised her with this Hazelnut Mocha Spelt Torte which we all thoroughly enjoyed. Of course I “speltified” it and did my own spin on the decoration (chocolate shavings instead of chocolate sprinkles mainly), but it was just as delectable as Oma’s version.

Although I may not have a slice of this beautiful cake to enjoy today, it will always remind me of my Mom’s birthday and the wonderful woman who was born today.

Happy baking!

The side view of a Hazelnut Mocha Spelt Torte decorated with whole hazelnuts and chocolate shavings. The torte is on a low white cake stand with white tiles on the wall behind it.

If you liked this recipe you are going to love these ones!

Traditional Black Forest Cake
Fancy Shmancy Spelt Flour Carrot Cake
Vanilla and Chocolate Spelt Marble Cake

Hazelnut Mocha Spelt Torte

Servings 12 slices
Author Sophie

Ingredients

Cake Dough

  • 1/4 cup organic, all purpose spelt flour also called white spelt flour
  • 250 grams hazelnuts roasted, cooled and finely ground
  • 3/4 cup spelt breadcrumbs or other breadcrumbs, finely ground
  • 3/4 tsp baking powder
  • 8 eggs at room temperature and separated
  • 250 grams granulated sugar

Cake Filling

  • 1 tbsp gelatine
  • 6 tbsp water 3 tbsp cool water, 3 tbsp boiling water
  • 1.5 tsp cocoa powder
  • 2 tsp instant coffee
  • 2 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 600 mL whipping cream
  • 1/2 cup plum jam or other jam
  • dark rum optional

Decoration

  • 12 whole hazelnuts for decorating
  • 3 squares semi-sweet baking chocolate shaved

Instructions

Make the Cake

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease the bottom and sides of an 8 - 9.5" springform pan with butter. Use the springform pan to trace and cut a circle of parchment paper then place the parchment paper circle on the bottom of the greased pan. Set aside.

  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the spelt flour, finely ground hazelnuts, breadcrumbs and baking powder. Set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment or in a large bowl with a hand held beater, beat the egg whites on high until stiff. Gently empty the egg whites into a large bowl and set aside. Clean and dry the stand mixer bowl and whisk attachment, then beat the egg yolks and sugar together on high until light and creamy, approximately 1 minute. Add the flour mixture to the egg yolk mixture, switch to the paddle attachment and mix on low until combined. Add the egg whites and fold gently with a large spatula until just combined.

  3. Pour the mixture into the springform pan and spread evenly. Bake for 30 - 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean. Remove the cake from the oven and let cool completely before cutting into 3 layers.

Make the Filling

  1. In a small bowl, pour the gelatine over the cool water. Add the boiling water and stir constantly until completely dissolved. Set aside. In another small bowl, mix the cocoa powder, instant coffee and sugar with 2 tbsp of room temperature water and stir until the instant coffee has dissolved. Set aside.

  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer with whisk attachment or in a large bowl with hand held beater, beat the whipping cream until soft peaks. Then with the mixer running, add the gelatine in a steady stream and beat the whipping cream until stiff. Add the cocoa powder mixture and beat on medium until combined. Transfer approximately 1 cup of the filling to a pastry bag with a decorating tip.

Assemble the Cake

  1. Place the bottom layer of cake on a cake plate or stand. Spread half the jam on top and 1/3 of the remaining filling. Place the second layer on top, spread the remaining jam on it, sprinkle with rum (optional) and spread another 1/3 of the remaining filling evenly on top. Top with the last layer of cake.

  2. Fill the cracks on the sides of the cake with cream, then frost the sides and top of the cake with the rest of the cream.

  3. Shave the chocolate with a large knife or potato peeler. Sprinkle chocolate around the base of the cake then lift and gently press the shavings onto the sides of the cake with a spatula. Pipe 12 florets on the top of the cake around the edges and top each floret with a hazelnut.

  4. Chill and refrigerate for a minimum of 8 hours up to 24 hours before serving to let all the flavors mingle.

2 thoughts on “Hazelnut Mocha Spelt Torte

  1. The cake looks delicious. Your Oma is adorable, and reminds me of my Oma. She looks like she’s really enjoying your cake. Thanks for sharing the photo. It made me smile.

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